Maol Chean-dearg and An Ruadh-Stac

Coulags

The route begins from Coulags which is a collection of a few houses by the bridge over the Fionn Abhainn on a single track section of the A890, around 6km north-east of the village of Lochcarron.

There is a parking area immediately west of the bridge with sufficient room for around 10 vehicles.

Coire Fionnaraich bothy below Sgorr Ruadh

From the parking area, cross the bridge over the Fionn Abhainn. Just beyond the bridge a Right-of-Way sign by a gate and barrier indicates the direction to Torridon.

Head through the gate and around the barrier to begin hiking up an estate track. The track leads to Coulags Lodge and just before nearing this, a sign directs hillwalkers onto a rough path, into woodland and around the lodge's gardens. The path re-joins the estate track just beyond the lodge.

Follow the estate track for around 300m to meet with a bridge, to the right of which is a rougher track (there was a rather temporary sign with 'Public Footpath' here on my last visit). Hike up this rough track for around 1.5km as it climbs gently, becoming rougher to reach a bridge over the Fionn Abhainn.

Over the bridge and onto the west bank of the Fionn Abhainn, the track has become a path, which is followed northwards for 1km to Coire Fionnarach bothy , a grand wee shelter if waiting for weather to pass, but which is locked during stalking season.

A further 2km onwards, the path comes to a junction by a cairn , head left (west) and begin to climb uphill following a burn. The path zig-zags, crosses the burn, then becomes very eroded. The path crosses another burn, becomes less badly worn and climbs a further 100m of height to arrive at Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh .

Approaching Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh

Approaching Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh

Maol Chean-dearg from Loch a' Mhadaidh Ruadh

At Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh, turn right and follow a boot-worn path picking a route up through quartzite scree and boulders. The path twists and turns as it climbs around 150m to gain more level ground on a spur on Maol Chean-dearg's south-eastern shoulder.

Heading north-west over uneven and stony ground, the path crosses the crest of the spur to reach the foot of a grass-covered slope . Up the slope, the path climbs a height of 100m or so to meet with a small gap below the final pull up Maol Chean-deag.

On Maol Chean-dearg, looking to Liathach

On Maol Chean-dearg, looking to Liathach

An Ruadh-Stac above Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh

From the highest point on Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh head southwards and pick up a path heading south-east. This path is the Right-of-Way from Annat and travels up to Bealach an Ruadh-Stac.

At the top of Bealach an Ruadh-Stac, leave the path, turn south-west and traverse some rocky ground above Loch a' Mhadaidh. A little lochan is passed near the end of the crest which leads to a short drop and the foot of An Ruadh-Stac .

Above and ahead is An Ruadh-Stac's eastern shoulder, very rocky and looking quite intimidating. In dry conditions the route is actually quite straightforward.

Initially sticking to the crest, begin climbing up rocky slabs. The most straightforward line up the rock begins to veere to the left of the crest. Higher up in a bit of a nook, the route appears blocked - at this point turn back onto the crest and scramble upwards as a path forms.

With the most steep ground of the crest passed, bouldery ground with patches of heather is reached. Instead of taking a direct climb up steep scree and rocky ground, at a slant, climb south-west over some loose ground to gain the base of a grass-covered indent, which continues up to An Ruadh-Stac's summit crest at around 200m north of the summit.

Applecross hills and Skye from An Ruadh-Stac's summit

Applecross hills and Skye from An Ruadh-Stac's summit

Clach nan Con-fionn below Fuar Tholl

From the summits, retrace your steps back down to Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh. A detour from An Ruadh-Stac's lower crest down to Loch a' Mhadaidh Ruadh is worthwhile for the views of An Ruadh-Stac and Maol Chea-dearg reflected in the waters.

Pick up the path heading down to Coire Fionnaraich and return towards Coulags.

The weird stone met by the Fionn Abhainn, around halfway between the path junction and the bothy , is Clach nan Con-fionn (stone of Fingal's dogs) - where legend has it, warrior and poet Fionn McCuill tied his hounds.

Final pull up to Sgorr Ruadh's summit

Bagging Maol Chean-dearg from Coulags, with or without An Ruadh-Stac, is not a particularly long hike and a fine option is to extend the route over to Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor.

One way to do this is to head down Maol-Chean-dearg's eastern shoulder, then northwards to cross Bealach na Lice and hike up Sgorr Ruadh's north-western shoulder from Bealach Ban. However, the deep thick heather under Maol-Chean-dearg and above Bealach na Lice is tiresome as are the boulderfields above Bealach Ban.

A quicker and easier route is to return from Maol Chean-dearg down to Coire Fionnaraich and make a direct ascent of Sgorr Ruadh, though better made in reverse. This route is described in 'Coulin Forest from Strath Carron' in 'Alternative and nearby routes' below.