| The start of the walk is on the B8035 road at the
shores of Loch Na Keal. On the map a car park symbol
can be seen near the holiday cottage of Dhiseig, there
isn't an actual car park here but small sections of
leveled grass on the side of the road. Loch Na Keal
is a great place for wildlife with sea birds including
large Grey Herons and small animals like Otters and
Stoats playing and hunting on the shoreline all day
and night. The small island in the middle of the loch
is known as Eorsa, this tiny unpopulated island is the
fictional setting of Nigel Tranter's 1952 novel The
Bridal Path, which was made into a motion picture 1959.
Ben More from Treshnish
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Abhainn na h-Uamha views
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From the starting point walk along the road in an easterly
direction for just under a mile until you reach the
small bridge that crosses the outflow of the Abhainn
na h-Uamha. Turn right onto the grassy bank and follow
the faint path that follows the Abhainn na h-Uamha up
into the valley above. After ascending the grassy hill
just under another mile you will reach the waterfalls
from the platform of which you have a panoramic view
over Loch Na Keal to the small island of Ulva. Ulva
is a populated and accessible island with a resident
population of just over a dozen. Its impressive geology,
wildlife and untouched wild landscape make it an intruiging
destination for those exploring Mull. It has a few famous
past residents including Lachan Macquarrie, the founder
of modern Australia and chief of the Clan Macquarrie.
Abhainn na h-Uamha falls
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Abhainn na h-Uamha
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Continue along the path from the waterfall that heads
south east along the floor of the Gleann na Beinne Fada.
Follow the line of the Abhainn na h-Uamha for a mile
or so and then head up towards the obvious col between
Beinn Fhada on the left and A' Chioch on the right.
Once at the col you will see in front of you the drop
to the remote valley of Glen Clachaig and the mountains
of Cruachan Dearg and Corra Bheinn behind. Turn right
and you will see the profile of the exciting route ahead,
up the A' Chioch north ridge. The way ahead is now an
exciting but serious scramble up the narrow ridge with
no alternative side paths, it seems to narrow the higher
you get and eventually tops out on a small summit which
acts as a viewing platform for the huge bulk of the
more impressive neighbour, Ben More.
Views over Loch Na Keal
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Views behind Beinn Fhada
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Follow the clear path down the easier south side of
A' Chioch to the rocky and narrow col between A'Chioch
and Ben More. The obstacle of Ben More's north east
ridge seems to be very similar to A' Choich but is slightly
easier due to an alternative yet also often unclear
path that hugs its left side, I would advise this be
used in bad weather. After scrambling up the rocky spine
of Ben More you will soon reach the boulder strewn summit.
A'Chioch Ridge
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A'Chioch Gully
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The summit has a circular boulder shelter of sorts
but no trig point which is no sad loss to be honest.
Your experience of this lofty summit will of course
be dependant on the weather conditions, but if like
me your first time at this lofty summit is fortunately
in near perfect conditions then the views sea bound
and highland bound are quite simply awe-inspiring! The
360 panorama takes in the North Atlantic Ocean and includes
Ben Nevis to the north east, the Skye Cullins to the
north and the Paps Of Jura to the south.
Paps of Jura from Ben More
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Ben More summit at sunset
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After taking in the summit views head off the mountain
in an absolute north west direction. This north western
ridge has a much less dramatic profile and is an easy
descent over stone and scree. Follow the ridge into
the Coire nam Fuaran where a path develops heading downhill
hugging the left hand side of the Abhainn Dhiseig. Follow
the path on the left side until a point a mile on where
the stream narrows, at this point a safe crossing should
be made to the now clearer path on the right hand side
of the stream. Follow this path down to the Dhiseig
holiday cottage and down the track back to the starting
point on the B8035 road at the shores of Loch Na Keal.
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Duration
: 6.5 Hrs
