Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban & Beinn a'Chlaidheimh, Maps 19,20;
24th Oct 2004 & 11th Jul 2007

Route: 20.8 miles, 1605m = 5270' ascent; 10½–11 hrs
(12.5 miles along path, 8.3 miles where no path marked.)

Access: Take A832 west from Braemore junction on A835 and park immediately W of sharp bend in A832 after forestry, 100yds W of track to Loch a' Bhraoin.
Route: Because of river crossings, sections of wet, pathless, peaty terrain, and the pinnacles on the ridge of Sgurr Dubh, this walk is much more enjoyable and less demanding in good, dry weather.
The path along Loch a' Bhraoin to Lochivraon is mostly of a high standard but has a number of stretches of tiresome shingle which looks nice but is energy sapping. Alternative routes usually approach these mountains from the north, avoiding the lochside walk entirely but they involve fording rivers.
Keep an eye out for the two small cairns, one on either side of the river, which mark the crossing point of the Allt Teanga nan Caiseachan at NH10147285. In spate this cannot be crossed with dry feet, and becomes more dangerous to cross where it narrows above the two cairns. After crossing, take the path at almost 90° away from the river for about 75 yards in order to pick up the excellent double track heading NW parallel to the river.
Sgurr Dubh (NH061729) is a Munro top which is easily omitted from the route. It lies on a knife edge ridge with pinnacles on either side that require scrambling, making it rather slow to traverse. It is shorter and easier on its NW ridge, which is just 150 yards long with 50m of ascent. It makes sense to plan to go and return the same way for this top (as below on 11 July 2007) so that you know what to expect when leaving the top or if a retreat is necessary. It is also much pleasanter to tackle when the rock is dry.
Beinn a'Chlaidheimh was re-classified in August 2011 from a Munro to a Corbett after careful GPS height measurements. It's a nice addition to this walk over straightforward terrain. However, it can be omitted if necessary, saving about 3½ miles and a significant 325m of ascent.
Sgurr Ban (NH055745) is covered in slow, bouldery terrain. It may therefore make more sense to descend from Beinn a'Chlaidheimh directly into the valley north of Loch an Nid rather than follow my descent route which returns to the eastern slopes of Sgurr Ban. However, given the amount of rain on the day, I preferred to stay out of the valley and not attempt to cross the Abhainn Loch an Nid until much further south. For those that like clambering over rocks, my best recommendation is to contour SSE over boulders from the lochans at Am Briseadh, then descend by the slabs immediately to the north of Meallan an Laoigh.
Note: The Glendevon Energy Company Ltd is currently constructing (Oct 2019) a hydro scheme which will raise Loch a' Bhraoin by 4 feet. This will affect the lochside track used in this walk. However, the company is required to provide a new track above the waterline before the loch level is raised (see §10.11 and §13.4 of The Highlnd Council Report.
Kit: Gaiters are needed for wet grass when off path in the glen of Loch an Nid. Poles are useful for the upper reaches of the corrie below Sgurr Dubh and on the scree descending N from Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair.
Weather 24/10/04: Rain throughout day; cloud on tops.
Weather 11/07/07: 15°C; cloud base at 400m initially, rising to 650m at 4pm. In cloud and light rain 1045-1600; sunny 1600-1630; dull thereafter.