Tom a' Chòinich

Tom a' Chòinich, at 1,112 metres, is an eastward extension of the great Càrn Eige range, forming an "e"-shaped junction of three ridges above Glen Affric — a far finer, more shapely peak with rocky ridges than its lumpy neighbour Toll Creagach, with which it's usually paired.

The route starts from a chargeable car park around 200 metres east of Chisholme Bridge, near the head of Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin. A track heads up the glen with grand views of Toll Creagach ahead, passing the steep rocky slopes of Beinn Eun before reaching a hydro intake, beyond which the track becomes a very boggy path. Two burns — the Allt a' Choire Odhair and Allt Toll Easa — both need crossing, and could be impassable in spate. Beyond the second, a stalkers' path climbs parallel to the west bank, giving views over fine waterslides, before zig-zagging higher up as the gradient eases into a hanging valley. From here, a path climbs onto the Creag na h-Inghinn ridge — narrowing with some easy, enjoyable scrambling — before easing above the steep eastern corrie to reach Tom a' Chòinich's large summit cairn, with excellent contrasting views: west to the mountainous ground of Càrn Eige, east to the far more rounded Toll Creagach and the distant Beauly and Moray Firths.

From the summit, a path descends the initially steep and rocky east ridge to the Bealach Toll Easa at 872 metres, from where the climb on the far side is much gentler, leading up rounded mossy slopes to Toll Creagach.

The combined round taking in both Munros from Chisholme Bridge is around 16-17 kilometres, typically six to eight hours — among the easiest Munros to reach from Glen Affric, though still a substantial walk.

The approach crosses genuinely boggy ground with burn crossings that could become impassable in spate, and the ridge sections demand sure-footedness on rocky terrain — full navigation and hillwalking skills are needed despite the relatively straightforward nature of this pairing compared to some Affric neighbours.

The Chisholme Bridge car park is chargeable; there is no public transport to the start.