Walking Route - Slioch, Northern
Highlands
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Kinlochlewe> Gleann
Bianasdail > Slioch > Kinlochlewe
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Average Time: 6 hours 50
minutes
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Distance: 11.2 miles
(18km)
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Height Gain: 4358 ft
(1329m)
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An ascent of Slioch from Kinlochewe gives you everything
that's great about walking in Scotland.
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Maps: OS LR 19, Explorer
435
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 3
Technicality: 2
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: NH033
624
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Overview An ascent of Slioch from Kinlochewe gives you
everything that's great about walking in Scotland. The route takes in
the shores of Loch Maree before heading up Gleann Bianasdail to a
typically rugged horshoe.
Though only five miles from Kinlochewe, Slioch feels remote with
Letterewe and Fisherfield stretching off into the distance from the
summit.
Slioch from the shores of Loch Maree - Richard
Nicholls
Section 1: Kinlochewe to Gleann Bianasdail
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Distance: 2.9 miles (4.6km)
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Height Gain: 410ft (125m)
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From the car park at Incheril, just east of Kinlochewe, take
the path running roughly NW alongside the river for nearly three
miles to a fork. Take the right branch here and carry on for a little
over two miles, past the 300ft waterfall on the right, to reach a
footbridge
at the start of Gleann Bianasdail.
Slioch waterfall - Mark
Riddington
The three miles to here only gained a little over 400ft in height,
but the next three will rise almost 3200ft so now makes a good time
for a break and a last look along Loch Maree before turning to the
climb ahead.
Section 2: Gleann Bianasdail to Slioch
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Distance: 3.1 miles (5km)
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Height Gain: 3294ft (1004m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 30 mins
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From the far side of the bridge over the
Abhainn an Fhasaigh
turn right and start up the glen to a fork marked by a cairn.
Take the left branch and again keep left at the next fork. The
path improves now as you continue the 1200ft climb to the Coire na
Sleaghaich. Emerging into the corrie between Sgurr Dubh and Meall
Each, head north to the obvious summit of Sgurr
an Tuill Bhain. Here the view opens up dramatically across
the Fisherfield Munros to the north.
Slioch - Steve
Walton
From the summit the route around the horshoe follows the edge of
the cliffs,and starts with a descent west to a col.
The ridge back up the other side narrows breifly before widening
out as it approaches the summit of Slioch. There's some
dispute over the true summit, with the trig point on one possible
site and a large cairn five minutes further on marking the other.
From here the view stretches the length of Loch Maree, on a good
day.
Section 3: Slioch to Kinlochlewe
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Distance: 5.2 miles (8.4km)
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Height Gain: 654ft (200m)
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Average Time: 2 hour 30 mins
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The last leg is the longest, but the hardest is behind you now as you
continue south east around the horseshoe. Cross a small mound, moving
slightly left as you do so.
Sunset over Slioch and Loch Fada - Kinley
As you reach the eastern end of the ridge a path leads down to a
col with two lochans. Ignoring the direct descent into Corrie na
Sleaghaich follow the horshoe first south to a col then south east to
the top of Sgurr
Dubh.
With the horshoe now complete head down the slope to the col
between Sgurr Dubh and Meall Each and back along your outward route
from Loch Maree and the River Kinlochewe.
Margot Bowker
