Gairich

Gairich, at 919 metres, is a distinctive solitary Munro on the south side of Loch Quoich, its craggy north-east face looking impressive across the water, qualifying as a Munro by only four metres yet giving one of the finest viewpoints in the West Highlands.

The route starts from a parking area at the Loch Quoich dam, completed in 1962 as part of one of the largest hydro-electric schemes to bring electricity to the Highlands, raising the loch's water level by around 100 feet. Crossing the top of the dam, a path climbs beside a forestry fence before joining a stalkers' path up from Glen Kingie, ascending Druim na Gaid Salaich in zig-zags with good views back down the glen. The path crosses boggy sections before fading into a faint peaty trail as the ridge flattens onto the extensive plateau of Bac nam Foid — notoriously boggy and cut with peat hags. The route continues west towards Gairich, with the path becoming clearer again at the foot of the steeper slopes; the stalkers' path keeps left of the ridge initially before zig-zagging up to the foot of the steep nose. The east ridge steepens considerably higher up, with one short, easy section of scrambling up knobbly rock — easier than it looks from below — before a false summit is passed and the true summit, a large cairn on a small plateau, is reached.

The isolated position makes Gairich a superb viewpoint, particularly for the vast waters of Loch Quoich and into Knoydart and the Glendessary mountains to the west, with the shapely peak of Sgùrr na Cìche dominating the view.

The out-and-back route from the dam is around 16 kilometres, typically five to seven hours; a stalkers' path leads down the west ridge into the lonely wilds of Glen Kingie for exceptionally fit backpackers wanting to continue the ridge traverse west over Sgùrr an Fhuarain, Sgùrr Mòr, and potentially as far as Sgùrr na Cìche in the Rough Bounds of Knoydart — though this is many miles from any road.

The approach is notoriously boggy in wet conditions, and gaiters and waterproof boots are strongly recommended; the steep upper section with its scrambly move demands care, particularly in descent — full navigation skills are valuable given the featureless nature of the Bac nam Foid plateau in poor visibility.

Parking at the Loch Quoich dam is free but limited; there is no public transport to the start.