In a previous post I told of a more interesting route up Ben Wyvis. Well this is another..
This time the route starts at Garbat. You can park at the main car park, but if that's a bit full you can drive on, heading north, for a 1/4 mile where you will find a layby for approx 5 cars. This is where I parked..
If you head out of the layby, going north, cross the bridge, the route starts the other side of the road. Head up pass the old quarry on a good forestry track. Just over a km in you come to a T-junction. Take the left here and stay on the track for another 8km.
Loch Bealach Culaidh 
Forestry Track
This route is a lot quieter than the normal route up Ben Wyvis and more enjoyable, especially for runners as the track is runnable for just over 9km. Along the way you will run passed Loch Bealach Culaidh.
The track goes steadily uphill till you reach the end of the loch. Here you keep on the track and pass a small dam. Keep going for another km and the main track from Loch Glass comes into sight. Take a right here just before the track. This goes steadily uphill on much boggier ground. There is around 700m of ascent over the next 5km, some which is runnable. There is a faint track leading all the way up to the summit of Carn Gorm and then Tom a' Choinnich. The terrain changes from heather and moss to rocky underfoot. There is the potential to do some anke damage here so it's worth taking your time.. You will also come across a wall which seems very out of place in such a wild looking place.
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| Wall up to Carn Gorm |
Follow a faint path up to Carn Gorm then onto Tom a Choinnich.
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| Heading toward the summit |
From Tom a Choinnich to the summit at 1046m the terrain is wet in places but easily runnable. Before too long you will have reached the summit.
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| Summit Photo |
From here you follow the ridge heading in a general sw direction until you reach An Cabar. This whole plateau area is very susceptible to erosion so stick to the path...
This is where the fun starts... The path from here has been updated in recent years and is a fast, technical downhill... On one occasion recently a bit too fast for myself where I took a flying fall and thankfully only did real damage to my pride and my new waterproof jacket....
It's best to take your time if you're not efficient in downhill running especially if you're on your own.. Otherwise just let go and enjoy it... You eventually join the path next to the river which takes you back to the car park and road..
