About the event:
At a Glance...
Munros at the end of Glen Dessary including the mighty Sgurr na Ciche on the edge of knoydart
Bikes help us with a short ride along tracks to save some time
Ridge of 3 Munros, and Sgurr Mor - an isolated Munro
Some bogs and trackless sections when hiking along with some minor scrambling
Spectacularly remote location
Incredible views
Accessible from Spean Bridge (north of Fort William
Western Highlands
Where are the Rough Bounds of Knoydart?
The Rough Bounds of Knoydart can be accessed from Spean Bridge north of Fort William. The road along Loch Arkaig through Glen Dessary is a bit of a roller coaster but absolutely stunning (if you're not driving that is!)
The mountains form a line that separate off the Knoydart peninsula to the north. The drive is about an hour from Spean Bridge (which is about 20 mins drive north of Fort William)
About the adventure
Rising high above Loch Arkaig and Loch Quoich, the mountains on the eastern fringes of the 'Rough Bounds of Knoydart' are rugged, wild and remote from civilisation giving a real sense of wilderness to anyone hiking here. On the eastern fringes of this area, Sgurr na Ciche rises dramatically above Loch Nevis. This mountain's silhouette is a distinctive landmark in the north-west Highlands. All of the mountains in the area require some careful planning to ascend, with many a hiker having poured over maps to find the best way to link them together. We're here for 2 days of guided hiking
We'll spend two days hiking the 4 Munros in this remote area. The Munros offer superb vantage points from where vast views over Knoydart and to Skye and Kintail can be savoured. Clamber and scramble over quartzite blocks and hike along fine crests
Feel an enormous sense of achievement having bagged these Munros. They are spectacular. The views can be spectacular. The experience can be physically exhausting - but mentally uplifting, empowering and utterly rewarding.
Saturday 1st August
The 3 Munros north-west of Glen Dessary form a ridge which can be bagged in a day and this is Saturday's plan.
We'll meet at the end of the roller-coaster Loch Arkaig road at the gate leading to the non-vehicular access at the end of the car park. It's a fair trek in made easier with bikes, but soon we're heading uphill up to Sgurr na Coireachan. From here we follow the remains of a wall to Garbh Chioch Mhor. To finish the day off we'll scramble up to the rough cone summit of Sgurr na Ciche which can give uninterrupted views from its summit along Loch Nevis towards Eigg and Rum.
We'll head down an interesting gorge and back to the bikes.
Roughly 25km (15.5 miles) with 1,614m (5,300ft) ascent.
Sunday 2nd August
A just as long day today tackling Sgurr Mor. From the same starting point, we strike off up to a relatively boggy col on a good track which soon disappears. We'll drop down into Glen Kingie, cross a river and then, steep grass covered slopes lead us up onto the ridges and to the summit. We can also take in the fine summit of Sgurr an Fhuarain (Corbett).
Roughly 25.5km (16 miles) with 1,475m (4,850ft) ascent.
If you are signing up for one of the days, we can't guarantee which days we'll attempt them on as that will be weather dependent. We'll only really know a day or so beforehand so please be prepared to be flexible!
Meeting Point:
We meet at Strathan at the end of the Loch Arkaig road both days here. To see the start point in Googlemaps - please click on the link. This will open in a new tab.
Difficulty:
These are long days. The cycling is on decent tracks though they get rougher as we get remoter. Although the cycling dustance isn't far, it can save a few hours of walking each day. There are also some steep sections for hiking, lots of bogs and trackless sections with some minor scrambling.
Prerequisites:
You'll need a good level of general hill fitness with experience of repeated ascent and descent. Being comfortable on a bike is essential.
Cost:
To come for a single day it costs £65. Please use this option if you want to come for two days.
The whole trip costs £120
Numbers:
We can take a maximum of 10 and a minimum of 4 for the trip to go ahead.
Equipment:
Please see the All Activities section of the kit list here. Walking poles are recommended.
You will need to provide your own transport (though we always encourage car sharing), hill kit, accommodation and travel insurance. You will need a hybrid / mountain bike with a lock, helmet and spare inner tubes.
Images from Past Events
To Book
If you want to chat to me about the event then please feel free to do so - email is a good start as I'm often out and about with limited phone reception. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions too.
To book simply click 'Register Now' and follow the instructions (or on mobile, the link below). You'll get an automated confirmation reply but I'll follow that up when I get back to civilisation to say thanks and with more detail about the event.
Please ensure you've read the booking Terms and Conditions and you are aware of what you need to bring by downloading the gear list.
Please check carefully which tickets you are booking and for how many. We try and be flexible but of course that brings loads of options!