An Teallach - Tuesday 8 April 2025

Route 

Dundonnell - Coir' a' Mhuilinn - Sron Choire - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill - Sgurr Fiona - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill - Sron Choire - Coir' a' Mhuilinn - Dundonnell

Parking

Parking area at a lay by on the A832 in the village of Dundonnell. The Grid Reference is NH 09233 87941 and the nearest postcode is IV23 2QR.

Mileage

9.7 miles

Terrain

Steep rocky mountain terrain with some easy scrambling required  

It should be noted that the majority of this route is not marked by any footpath on the OS Map however for the most part the paths are there on the ground.
​
Weather

Just glorious - sunshine and the lightest of breezes

​Time Taken

7hrs 

Total Ascent

4752ft (1449m)

Map​

OS Explorer 435 - An Teallach & Slioch

Walkers

Dave

GPX Files

​From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.

​Route Map

The small parking area in a lay by off the A832 at Dundonnell, Wester Ross

I would be on my own today as before starting the walk I hadn't made my mind up as to how far I would go along my planned route. Therefore Angie dropped me off and did some walking a little further up the A832 at Little Loch Broom. Today's walk was another one that had been on the radar for quite a while - An Teallach (The Forge) is the name for the mountain group however I would probably only be going as far as its two highest peaks, the Munros of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill (The Peak of the Grey Hollow) at 3484ft (1062 m) and Sgùrr Fiona (The Fair Peak) at 3473ft (1058m). The decision as to why I did not complete my intended route will be explained later on in the walk report.

From the lay by I headed south east along the A832 to reach a pair of bungalows. If you reach the driveway to the bungalows then you have gone too far (as I did) - see below.

Considering this is a popular route the initial path is very inconspicuous. It is a short distance before the driveway and can just about be seen passing through some gorse bushes to then drop down over a small burn.

The route makes its way up to a hand gate 

From the hand gate the path rises gently as I look back towards the start point with Loch Broom over to the left

As I transit up towards Coir a' Mhuillin, the huge bulk of Glas Mheall Mor comes into view

I was now walking alongside the Allt a' Mhuillin with a fantastic view of Glas Mheall Mor

With the slopes of Glas Mheall Mor to my left, I made my way up to the col in the far distance via the Allt a'Mhuilinn aiming for the small patch of snow dead centre. 

This was a gradual climb which crossed over the Allt a'Mhuilinn a few times as it made its way to the col

I've said it many a time but these climbs make you a shadow of your former self

Almost at the col now as the isolated snow comes into view

No need to don the micro spikes or use the crampons & ice axe today - the snow was a beautiful heart shape

From the col I walked over to the summit of Sron a' Choire where I gained my first view of the two Munros I was to climb today - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill to the left with Sgurr Fiona centre. The mountain to the right is Sgurr Creag an Eich.

Looking across to Glas Mheall Mor

Looking back to Sron a' Choire and the lower slopes of Glas Mheall Mor from below Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

On the path to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill - the route cuts across the steep and stony western slope of the mountain gradually increasing in steepness. Whilst the path looks rough and stony, this was a pretty easy transit across the ever increasing slope.

A look back across the first section of the path

Sgurr Creag an Eich from the upper section of the path to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

After negotiating the final slope up to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill I was greeted with probably what is regarded as the best view from a mountain in the entire United Kingdom. This was one of those wow moments that totally took my breath away. The rest of the summits of An Teallach just stretching away before me - Sgurr Fiona, Lord Berkeley's Seat, Corrag Bhuidhe, Stob Cadha Gobhlach & Sail Liath. The body of water below is Loch Toll an Lochain.

The glorious view from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill (Click Play to view)

Looking east from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill to Glas Mheall Liath

The summit of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill looking to Glas Mheall Mor

The view from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill (Click Play to view)

The summit Trig Point on Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill - and what a view from it

Glas Mheall Mor from the Trig Point on Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

I had the place all to myself - nobody else here

Having lingered on Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill it was time to descend down to the col and ready myself for the ascent of Sgurr Fiona

Halfway down the ascent from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

Looking back up to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill - the descent was pretty easy on a relatively good path

The valley of Toll an Lochain and the loch of the same name

I was now in the col and contemplated the route to gain the summit of Sgurr Fiona. Had I not been alone I would normally have scrambled straight on up the ridge, However as I was on my own I played it safe and took the path to the right of centre which eventually hits the ridge line to the right.

Sgurr Creag an Eich from the col

The route to Sgurr Fiona from the col - whilst the path looked a bit ropey from distance, it was actually quite good on the ground

Sgurr Creag an Eich from the ascent path

Looking back to the col & Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

The connecting ridge to Sgurr Creag an Eich as I reach the turning point on the main ridge line to Sgurr Fiona's summit

Loch na Sealga and Fisherfield - the two mountains in the foreground are Beinn Dearg Mhor to the left and Beinn Dearg Bheag to the right

After a very pleasant climb up the ridge line I arrived on the summit of Sgurr Fiona. Ahead of me is Lord Berkeley's seat which blends into the pinnacles of Corrag Bhuidhe. Beyond is Stob Cadha Ghoblach and Sail Liath.

It was at this point that I had a decision to make. I had originally intended to carry on over the Pinnacles of Corrag Bhuidhe or take a precarious side path and return to the start by descending via Sail Liath. However, both routes involved some exposure and whilst well within my capabilities, I was conscious of the fact that I was on my own. Whilst Angie knew my route, had I fallen nobody would have known therefore I erred on the side of caution and decided to return to Dundonnell via my outward route.

This had still been a fantastic day out and I will definitely be back to complete the entire transit of An Teallach.

The summit of Sgurr Fiona looking to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

I wandered north for a few yards along Sgurr Fiona's summit ridge to get a better view of my descent from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill. From here it looks quite daunting but appearances can be deceiving. The chap ahead of me had come over from Sail Liath and was off back to Dundonnell via Glas Mheall Mhor - we had a chat on the summit.

A fantastic panorama of An Teallach

Another look at Sgurr Creag an Eich from Sgurr Fiona

Retracing my way along the path back to the col from Sgurr Fiona.

​All the way back I questioned my decision as to whether I should have simply carried on over the Pinnacles. However I have always stood by the mantra that if I had to think about any route choice being dodgy then I should always take the easier option and turn back.

The ascent of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill from the col

A final look back to Sgurr Fiona and the rest of An Teallach as I near the summit of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill for the second time today. The two people below me were only the second and third humans I'd seen all day.

Heading across the slopes of Glas Mheall Mhor to Sron a' Choire

The long walk back to Dundonnell via Coir a' Mhuilinn

Handrailing the Allt a' Mhuilinn

Dundonnell below as I come to the end of what I can only describe as a fantastic days walking in this stunning area

Home