Walk of the week: Carn Ghluasaid

Carn Ghluasaid lies on the north side of Loch Cluanie overlooking the A87. Smaller than its neighbouring northern Munros, Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn, it is thus a very good viewpoint and merits being kept for a fine, albeit short day.

The name means “hill of movement”. Scotland experiences only very minor earthquakes, in any case, the Highland boundary fault runs diagonally across Scotland, passing through Comrie and thus well away from Ghluasaid. Faith may move mountains, but a more prosaic explanation lies in the jumble of boulders that have tumbled down its long south-west ridge, at a height of 800m.

A stalkers’ path climbs almost to the summit; an easy leg-stretch – 750m to climb and 2½ miles at most to walk. The path keeps west of those boulders and easily breaches the crags.

Two weeks ago I wrote about the demotion from Munro status of Beinn a’Chlaidheimh, consequent to a re-surveyed height of below 3000ft. That leaves Ghluasaid – at 957m/3140ft it comfortably qualifies – yet it is the lack of “drop” (the descent to a low point before the rise to another hill) that poses the problem. The drop to the low point before Conbhairean is only 62m. Only the Skye Munros, Am Basteir and Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, have a lower drop albeit with special circumstances in terms of difficult terrain. And there are other hills, only classified as subsidiary Tops, with markedly more drop.

Nevertheless, despite a strong case for demotion to Top status, I would leave well alone.

Lundie, the start point, lies on the A87 by Loch Cluanie, but don’t expect any habitation, just the remains by the shore of temporary buildings used during construction of the Cluanie Dam in the 1950s.

Part of the old road above the A87 serves as a parking spot.

Although Ghluasaid lies due north, the path takes a clockwise route which eases the gradient. Although I have never experienced stalking restrictions on the path, do take heed of any notices. Head west for 500 yards on the old military road from Jacobite times. Shortly after a gate, the path goes by a mobile phone mast and then heads north to An Cruachan, a conical bump at 460m, but a distinctive point in identifying Ghluasaid from the road. Although the south-west ridge and boulder-field are readily seen from the lower slopes (suggesting early Cluanie area inhabitants so named the hill) the actual summit lies hidden.

The first mile can be wet in places, but the path does its work and the rock-fall debris is easily reached. The path bypasses the debris, as well as some small crags, before petering out, to be replaced by a worn Munro path that leads to the flattish summit dome high above Coire Lundie.

There are two summit cairns. The possibly slightly lower one has the best position, perched by the edge of the northern crags overlooking Coire Sgreumh and showing the rugged long line of cliffs, the eastern face of the neighbouring Munros.

Returning in good weather is straightforward, but if cloud comes down take a bearing for the stalkers’ path. On such a very misty day I met some walkers descending as I was climbing. “How far to the next Munro?” they enquired. “Do you mean Conbhairean?” I said. After a look at the map, “yes” was their reply. It took a while to convince them that they were almost down to Loch Cluanie again and not heading for the Sgurr.

Map Ordnance Survey map 34, Fort Augustus

Distance 5 miles

Height 750m

Terrain Stalkers’ path then Munro path to summit dome

Start point Lundie on the A87 by Loch Cluanie

Time 4 hours

Nearest villages Invergarry

Recommended refreshment spot Cluanie Inn