Maol Chean-dearg

Maol Chean-dearg
Ross-shire
Maol Cheann-dearg (R) and An Ruadh-stac (L), with Skye behind
Range:	Torridon Hills
Summit:	3,061 feet NG924499 57°29’30"N, 5°27’56"W

Maol Chean-dearg is a mountain amongst the Torridon Hills of Ross-shire, which reaches a height of 3,061 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro.

The name may be written as Maol Chean-dearg, Maol Cheann-dearg or Maol-cheann Dearg, and in any case means roughly "Bald Red Head", from Maol, a bald hill.

The mountain stands between Upper Loch Torridon and Loch Carron, in the Coulags deer forest of Wester Ross. It is one of three Munros in this area, the others being Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhòr. Maol Chean-dearg is slightly isolated from the other two being separated by a low col of 1,380 feet and therefore is often climbed separately.

The mountain is typical of the region in that geologically it is made up of a mixture of sandstone and quartzite, it has a steep flanks and is rock-strewn. The dome shaped summit is littered with red sandstone boulders and lacking in vegetation making its translated name of "Bald Red Head" especially appropriate. The mountain is not to be confused with Maol Chinn-dearg, another Munro on the south Glen Shiel ridge.

Ascent

Maol Cheann-dearg is one of the few hills of such a height which is encircled by good stalkers paths, as it is on the Beinn Damh deer estate. These paths can be utilised to do an attractive circuit of the mountain to examine the sandstone cliffs and the picturesque lochs of Loch an Eion, Loch Coire an Ruadh-staic and Loch Coire Fionnaraich which surround the mountain and are frequented by some interesting wild birds. For strong walkers the mountain can be ascended with the neighbouring 'Corbett' hill, An Ruadh-stac (2,927 feet) which lies a mile or so to the south.

Maol Cheann-dearg is usually climbed from Coulags on the A890 road in Glen Carron, though it is possible to start from Annat at the head of Upper Loch Torridon. At Coulags though it is possible to park in a disused gravel pit.

The valley of the Fionn-amhainn is followed northerly passing the bothy at Coire Fionnaraich, a fine shelter with a lone Ash tree outside the front door. 500 yards further on a curious upstanding stone is encountered, this is the Clach nan Con-fionn ("The Stone of Fingal’s Dog") where the legendary Fionn mac Cumhaill reputedly tethered his hounds while hunting. Another 500 yards further on a path leaves the valley and goes west to the top of the Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh from where the south east ridge can be followed over broken quartzite and awkward boulders to reach the summit. The summit has a very large cairn and has one of the best views from any Munro with the Torridon Hills well seen to the west along with Beinn Bhàn and the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye to the southwest.

References

• The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
• In the Hills of Breadalbane, V.A. Firsoff, no ISBN
• The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-84204-082-0
• The Magic Of The Munros, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
• Hamish's Mountain Walk, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5

Looking north-west from the summit over Beinn na h-Eaglaise to the Torridon mountains.

Munros in SMC Area SMC Section 13 - Coulin and Torridon
Beinn Liath Mhòr • Maol Chean-dearg • [Liathach