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The Fannaichs

A completely new set of hills for me. There is a splendid wilderness atmosphere about them,  offering a genuine feeling of remoteness even though the main Ullapool road is never far away. The Fannaichs form a long chain of peaks in the high ground between Loch Fannaich, Loch Glascarnich and Loch a'Bhraoin. The nine munros in this chain were climbed in one long day. Fionn Bheinn was climbed from Achnasheen in the south as a separate walk.
 

 
An Coileachan 923m/3028ft

Meall Gorm 949m/3113ft
Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich 954m/3130ft
Sgurr Mor 1110m/3642ft
Meall na Crasgaidh 934m/3064ft
Sgurr nan Clach Geala 1093m/3586ft
Sgurr na Each 923m/3028ft
Sgurr Breac 999m/3278ft
A'Chailleach 997m/3271ft
       
date climbed 27/06/2011 time taken 13 hours
distance 24miles ascent 14100ft
OS Map Landranger 29 Weather Cloudy but with good visibility
Starting point : Loch Glascarnoch  (grid ref :280741)
Accommodation : Forest Way Bunk House - highly recommended

 

The Forest Way bunkhouse was left early in the morning so as to ensure a good early start on the walk. The car was left at the western end of Loch Glascarnoch and route to take in the 9 munros peaks started in an east to west direction. Following Steven Fallons route, the signs directing you towards Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich were followed. Heathery easy ground lead to the first Munro of the day,  An Coileachan. The connections between the peaks were then followed as each Munro was summited in tern. The views improved as day progressed, with An Teallach and the Destitution Road getting ever closer.

Progress was good but the 400m climb up Sgurr Bhreac was tough towards the back end of the day. The summit was finally reached and whilst on route towards the last peak, A'Chailleach, Iain from the bunk house was rung from the mobile so as to take up on his very kind offer of a lift back to my car at the end of the day.

The descent was marked by the very steep climb down Druim Reid - not what you want after nine Munros!  Twisty and slippery,  the path is obvious and heads down to a bridge at the eastern end of Loch a'Bhraoin and eventually the lay-by on the A832, the 'Destitution Road'. Transport arrangements worked out fine and I was back at my car in no time at all. Thanks Iain - much appreciated. 

 
 
Fionn Bheinn 933m/3061ft  
date climbed 26/06/2011 time taken 5 hours
distance 7miles ascent 3000ft
OS Map Landranger 20 25 Weather Heavy rain and very misty - foul!
Starting point : Achnasheen

The onslaught of an absolutely foul day provided the encouragement to do the singlet peak in the Fannaichs range. Not a lot to report from the day but the fact that it rained a lot and there was nothing to see. The peak would I am sure be pretty uninspiring  even in good weather.