Hike and bike the Glenfinnan Munros on this old-school adventure in Scotland’s wild (north) west

You may have accessed the start of this route by car or bus, but it’s worth orientating yourself at the large National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre car park (toilets/cafe) first. The estate track required can be gained by either using the main road to cross the River Finnan and locate the gated track, just after the bridge. Or an engineered path can be used on the east side of the river, which starts from the car park and meanders towards a bridge at NM909813. Your choice of covering the next 4km on bike or foot may influence your decision, as it’s easier to cycle on the tarmac track, on the west side of river. Easy walking alongside the river, introduces you to Glen Finnan quite sedately!

Arrive at Corryhully Bothy and a junction of streams. This is a good place to orientate the map, safely store bikes (if used) and prepare for the day’s walk. Depart this area by way of the continuation of this good estate track, as it starts to ascend towards another stream junction (waters descending from Coire Thollaidh to the north). Cross a bridge at the base of a major spur – Drum Coire a Bheithe – leading towards the summit of Sgurr Thuilm. Start the gradual ascent, steeply on grass at first, and enjoy the unfolding mountainous panorama in all directions as height is gained. Walking is steadier above the 700m contour and a faint path follows the shoulder to the base of the final ascent to Sgurr Thuilm. At the 900m contour, head directly north for 350m and reach your first summit of the day.

From this rounded summit, if the weather is clear, catch glimpses of distant peaks in all directions, including east to Ben Nevis and north-west to the Knoydart peninsula, as well as the continuation of the route around the undulating head of Coire Thollaidh. In poor visibility, check a compass to descend just south of south-west to the 850m contour and meet an old boundary/estate line, with rusty posts still in place – which can provide handy features to locate if needed. Once on the rocky and grassy ridge connecting a number of lower summits, enjoy walking generally west/ north-west towards the next significant summit of Beinn Gharbh (825m high and about 2km away), gaining and losing height over rocky and grassy ground. If strong winds from the west are forecast, it may be more comfortable reversing this route as, although it’s a glorious ridge walk, it’s high and can feel exposed in poor weather.

From Beinn Gharbh, the final and highest summit of the day, Sgurr nan Coireachan, looks quite imposing, rising to the west. Follow the remaining ridge line for 2km as it sweeps round to the final ascent of Sgurr nan Coireachan, where the ground steepens after the 850m contour. Here the route heads south-west to ascend broken and steeper ground, with some rocky steps to clamber through to gain the summit trig point at 956m.

Enjoy magnificent views out to sea and, on clear days, of the Small Isles and the Isle of Skye from this summit. An abrupt change of direction to descend south-south-east brings another perspective over Coire Thollaidh and summits to the east, including the very sharp and shapely Corbett, Streap, on the opposite side of Glen Finnan. The next 1km of descent follows some steep sections of path, rocks and vague/rocky ground towards the lower summit of Sgurr a’ Choire Riabhaich. Handrailing the edge of the ridge line, keeping steeper slopes on the left down to the coire below, is a useful navigational tool here – especially when crossing the flatter area between the two summits. The route is vague, especially in poor visibility, as it moves through rocks and peaty ground. Gain height slightly again to 852m to reach the flat summit area, prior to another steep descent.

From the rounded top of Sgurr a’ Choire Riabhaich, head south-east for 200m towards steeper slopes, looking for a distinct zigzag switching south west to descend through steeper ground to the shoulder below. The route now follows a prominent shoulder to the east of Coire Carnaig and an intermittent path is helpful at times. But the general direction keeps heading south-east, eventually dropping to the junction of rivers at the foot of Coire Thollaidh. At around the 350m contour, keep a look out for a much more evident track that develops, initially heading east to start descending to the glen below.

Locate the track at this grid reference and enjoy a fairly straightforward descent. It is the route of a well-used and historical stalkers’ path, also previously used by horses. It heads down, generally south across steep hillside, for almost 1km and meets up with the main track through the glen, that was used in the outward ascent. Enjoy the easy walking on this track for 1km back to Corryhully Bothy.

Now there is the return leg, along 4km of estate track/tarmac, heading generally south-west towards the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Visitor Centre. Enjoy the easy walk by the river or collect bikes to cycle back to reality.