This was a first foray into the Fannichs. We parked the car at the bend on the A832 high on the open moor west of Braemor Junction. This is a popular access point to the mountain ranges and there are always cars parked by the roadside. Beyond the locked barrier gate - with large rocks laid on the verge to prevent vehicles circumventing the gate - it is only a short stroll down a track to the Eastern end of Loch a' Bhraoin. A boathouse and ruined house sit somewhat forelornly on the shore. Two long distance footpaths run from this point - one west to Kinlochewe and a second south to Loch Fannich and on to the main road at Grudie.
We crossed the river by a bridge and started along the well established valley path for a short distance. After 200 m we left the path and set off over rough moorland in a southerly direction heading for the obvious crag of Leitir Fhearne. Use of this approach route is establishing a path on the ground - but it is wet and boggy in places and the surface vegitation is breaking up under even the modest use that it gets. The ascent steepens as the crag is reached and picks a way between the rock outcrops to pop out on a flat summit and cairn at the 600m countour. With such a rapid height gain you get an extensive view back over the moor below. The surrounding tops were clear of cloud but the sky was overcast and grey.
From this northern outlier a grassy ridge stretches ahead for 3 km to reach the imtermediate top of Tomain Coinich. The first obstacle was to traverse the peat hags and pools of standing water that lie of the broad flat summit. As height is gained the boggy patches are left behind and it becomes a pleasant elevated stroll. We were passed by a walker descending after completing a round of the tops. The faint path bears right to bypass the summit so we held the line along the ridge to reach the top on the main ridge. This line circles high above the corrie of Coire Breac - far below on the corrie floor a herd on over 100 deer were grazing - completely unconcerned by our circuit of the ridge. The sun was starting to make an appearance and the view was extensive - taking in Beinn Eighe, Slioch and An Teallach.
We opted for lunch on the main top of Sgurr Breac so we dropped down the easy slopes of the ridge and climbed the steeper - but still straightforward - ridge to the summit. A long flat top with cairns at either end. With all mountain tops now bathed in sunshine the view takes in summits from Ben Hope in the north to Ben Nevis and beyond in the south. The green and grassy slopes of the Fannichs stretch to the East. Below Loch Fannich was quite low with a wide tide mark. We settled down for lunch in bright sunshine with a cool breeze blowing just after 2:00 pm - nearly three hours after setting off from the road side.
To take in the western top we dropped down to the col and took a detour across the grass on the south side of Tomain Coinich to save re-ascent and gain the far col. A steeper path leads to the next top of A' Chailleach along the top of the corrie crags - elevated and exposed. The line is marked by old metal fence posts - some standing with other just stubs and the posts lying on the ground. We soon reached the top - again a flat summit with a sizeable cairn. We settled down for a final look around and photos.
From this top there is the option of continuing North over the top of Sron na Geibhre - thence down steep grassy slopes to gain the lip of the corrie far below with a return to the bridge at Loch a' Bhraoin over rough and trackless moor. In the event we preferred to retrace our steps and savour a stroll back along the high ridge we had climbed. Dropping to the col we picked our way through rough grass and rocks to gain the ridge of Druim Reidh without re-ascent. There is a slight path but we probably stayed too high for it - it could well have been quicker to stick to the ridge and traversed the intermediate top. Once the ridge was gained it was an easy stroll for 2 km in the late afternoon sunshine. With the sharp descent over the crags at the end of the ridge we were soon back on the track and crossing the river beside the boathouse. It was 7:30 pm by the time we got back to the car at the roadside - with the hills bathed in evening sunshine. Finally a brisk drive to Dundonnel for supper - a superb day.