Either start from the hotel or drive up the road to Culnacraig for a mile and a half to the point where a side road leads down to the right to the Badenscallie burial ground. Set off to the left up along the right bank of the Badenscallie burn. There is no path but the route lies east northeast towards the rounded summit of An t’Sail (The Heal). The going is rough but not steep until you reach the beginning of the ridge, which you will follow around Dubhrach Coire, The Glen of Stags.

From the summit cairn of An t’Sail, make your way almost due east along the broad ridge, the view ahead becoming more and more magnificent with Stac Pollaidh seen across Loch Lurgainn and Suilven beyond. The ridge drops toward crags, and it is well worthwhile going to the small rock castle at the north of the mountain (to the left of a lochan) for the view down to Loch Bad a’Ghaill and Loch Lurgainn.

Now continue southwest along the main ridge climbing steeply and keeping near the rim of the crags. Below is Loch Dearg with the twin summits of Beinn Eoin to the east. The greatest excitement is the view of the precipitous face of Sgurr an Fhidleir, the Fiddlers Peak rising from Lochan Tuath, with Beinn Tarsuinn beyond.

Follow the ridge southwest now dropping to a col, and climbing again to Beinn Nan Caorach, the Mountain of Sheep. From here, the Fiddlers Peak shows its gentle side. Now the sea attracts the eye with the Summer Isles seen clearly beyond the sharp summit of Cona Mheall, the Hill of Enchantment. Descend steeply avoiding the crags, to a broad col and make your way up the narrowing ridge of Cona Mheall to the summit cairn perched on the edge of tremendous crags. From nowhere else do you get such a fine view over Achiltibuie and the Rubha Mor peninsula. The Hebrides can be seen on the horizon, and across Loch Broom and the peninsula, that divides it from Little Loch Broom, you can see An Teallach (The Forge), one of the most spectacular of all British mountains.

Make your way back to the col between Cona Mheall and Beinn nan Caorach, and head southwest steeply down, bearing more to the west as you descend. Look back at the wedge-shaped ridge of Cona Mheall. On the road, you will have a mile and three quarters or so to Badenscallie.

DISTANCE: 7 ½ Miles

GOING: Rough, steep in places but no real scrambling.

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