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Meall a' Ghiubhais from Kinlochewe

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Central Highland

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 2850 feet / 864 metres

Time - 6 hours 50 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 433Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Meall a' Ghiubhais from Kinlochewe
Click image to visit gallery of 9 images.

The small community of Kinlochewe is surrounded by fine hill country. This route explores one of the nearby Corbetts, namely Meall a' Ghiubhais, which rises to 886 metres. This hill together with the Munro Beinn Eighe are to be found within the boundaries of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve where efforts are being made to restore the hills to their native trees and plants.

The start is the small car park at the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve visitor centre (Grid ref. NH020630) on the western side of the A832 approximately 1 km north of Kinlochewe. From here walk towards Kinlochewe along the main road and turn left onto a track after three hundred metres. This continues in southwesterly direction and soon becomes a well-maintained path that climbs steadily across the open hillside.

Ignore paths going right. These are part of a circular route that begins from the visitor centre. The path becomes rougher with less evidence of regular maintenance with improving views in all directions. Ignore a further path on your left to a gate in the deer fence and continue uphill crossing a few small streams. Go through the deer fence into open country and climb further to reach an area with a number of small lochans (Grid ref. NG 985625). This is also the watershed.

On your right you will see the steep slopes (with some scree) of Meall a' Ghiubhais rising to twin summits. There is no clear path and the best approach seems to be using grass as much as possible well to the right of the obvious gully containing a stream. Ascent is easier if you zig-zag and you will be surprised how quickly you reach the summit plateau. Mark the spot ready for your descent and then head southwest to the highest point of the hill.

The return is made by retracing your outward route, perhaps taking the second path on the left to utilise part of the visitor centre loop. This takes you past some interesting sculptures using wood and rock. In addition there are boards providing background information on local fauna and flora. If time permits, a visit to the visitor centre is recommended and you will be able to understand the challenges facing this ground breaking reconstruction of an ancient landscape.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1305 Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe from Kinlochewehard7.5 miles
Walk 2116 Beinn Eighe Route Guidehard13.0 miles
Walk 2117 Beinn Eighe - West to East traverse, Torridonhard12.3 miles
Walk 2118 Beinn Eighe traverse including Black Carls, Torridonhard12.5 miles
Walk 2119 Beinn Eighe - The Munros & Sail Mhor, Torridonhard13.0 miles
Walk 2120 The Munros of Beinn Eighe, Torridonhard10.8 miles
Walk 3268 Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair (Beinn Eighe)moderate8.3 miles
Walk 2593 Liathach, Glen Torridonvery hard8.5 miles
Walk 1344 Beinn Alligin & Sgurr Mormod/hard6.0 miles
Walk 2106 Ullapool - a Munro Quartet including Beinn Deargvery hard16.0 miles

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