The last time I walked these two Munros above Loch Cuaich, near Invergarry, was in 2019. I enjoyed a solo adventure and completed a circuit of Spidean Mialach and Gleouraich anti-clockwise. I didn’t see much from up high because of cloud on that day. On Sunday, Hubby G and I returned to these Munros in unseasonably warm weather in November 2022.
G is close to finishing his second round of Munros and he recalled the last time he walked the two Munros. It was around the time that we met some 13 or so years ago and, mostly, he talked about being much fitter then.
G decided he would prefer to walk the circuit clockwise, as he had the last time, and I always prefer to try new routes so I agreed. In retrospect, I think I prefer the anti-clockwise route because there is a lot of wet and boggy ground between the road and the summit of Spidean Mialach.
I would always choose to ascend on boggy ground, rather than descend because there is more chance of slipping when walking downhill. G disagrees: He prefers to ascend on the steeper trail to Gleouraich and then descend on the boggy path.
Roadside to Gleouraich
From the start, the path climbs steeply and steadily, although the gradient is made much easier thanks to an easy-to-follow zig-zagging stalker’s path.
At first you can only glimpse the summit of the Munro from far below in the corrie but the higher you rise, the greater the view of the high ridge that is the location of both Munros, Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach.
G and I plodded uphill, removing layers in the warm weather. It was mostly sunny, too, and the views over Loch Cuaich and across to the peaks of Knoydart and beyond were superb.
From around 600m elevation, the wind picked up and it was occasionally quite strong. The wind also brought a bit of a chill at times.
From the higher north-west edge of the corrie, the route continues on to a path the climbs towards the ridge. The last push to the summit of Gleouraich at 1035m is steep, although, again, a zig-zagging path helped with the gradient.
At the cairn, G and I enjoyed his sandwiches. Strangely, my sandwiches had disappeared. They never turned up and I can only think that I must have dropped them somewhere.
High cloud came and went but on the whole we were treated to some great views.
Walk along the ridge to Spidean Mialach
Fron Gleouraich, the ridge extends east. The walk to reach the second Munro is longer than you might imagine at this point, plus there are plenty of downs and ups. The clouds came and went so that, at times, it was clear where we were headed and, at other times, we had to trust that the obvious path would eventually lead to the next Munro.
A couple of times, I checked my map to see how much further we needed to go. There are a couple of lower cairns before reaching the shelter cairn on Spidean Mialach.
The ridge is stunning. To the north, the slope drops steeply to Glen Quoich and across to the high peaks of the South Glen Shiel Ridge. While, to the south, the ridge rolls in folds and creases of corries towards Loch Cuaich.
Eventually, we could see the top of Spidean Mialach at 996m. Sadly, cloud enveloped us and the views were minimal. Again, we had a short rest and a bite to eat before returning a short way along the ridge and then taking a descent path to the south-west.
I found this the most testing part of the walk. It was frequently wet, soggy or boggy. Plus my previously comfortable boots started to dig into my right ankle bone.
I also started to feel the impact of a hill running race I’d done the day before and my legs were telling me they wanted to stop and rest.
Fortunately, lower down the slope, the vista was spectacular. By now the cloud had disappeared and the sun was setting over Loch Cuaich and an array of mountains. I love the light of a late and sunny winter’s day.
I’ll leave you with a few stats and my route, as well as lots of photos to entice you.
Route details: Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach
Distance: 13km
Total elevation: 1230m
Route: Strava.