Heart of the Cuillins
From the parking area, the track leads on through Glenbrittle campsite to a gate with a kissing gate. Pass left of the toilet block and through a kissing gate. Turn left along a stony track just above, which runs gently downhill above the campsite, to rejoin the Glenbrittle road.
Keep ahead to cross a bridge with the white Memorial Hut just ahead. On the right are some stone buchts (sheep-handling enclosures) and at their corner a path heads uphill to reach a footbridge which crosses the Allt Coire na Banachdich.
Cross the footbridge and head up to the right of the stream's deep ravine, with a great view of the waterfall at its head. Its Gaelic name, Eas Mor, means simply 'Big Waterfall'. Above, the path bears right, to slant up the hillside. Below the spur of Sgurr Dearg, the path forks. Here keep right, aiming for the right-hand of the two corries above, which is Coire Lagan. The path passes above Loch an Fhir-bhallaich. At a short steepening, the rebuilding works end and the path becomes rough. It rounds a shoulder into the lower part of Coire Lagan and meets a much larger path at a big cairn.
Turn uphill on this path, until a belt of bare rock blocks the way into the upper corrie. This rock has been smoothed by a glacier into gently-rounded swells, known as 'boiler-plates'. A scree field runs up into the boiler-plate rocks. The best way keeps up the left edge, below a slab wall with a small waterslide, to the highest point of the scree. Head up left for 50ft (15m) on bare rock, then back right on ledges to an eroded scree above the boiler-plate obstruction. Look back down your upward route to note it for your return. The trodden way slants up to the right. With the main stream near by on the right, it goes up to the rim of the upper corrie.
The boiler-plate slabs at the lochan's outflow are excellent for picnics. Walking mainly on bare rock, it's easy to ake a circuit of the lochan. For the return journey, retrace your steps to Point 4. Ignoring the right fork of the route you came up by, keep straight downhill on the main path. It runs straight down to the toilets at Glenbrittle campsite. Turn left over a rustic footbridge to finish along the beach.
Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
- Family rooms: 1
- Free TV
- WiFi available







