Sgurr Coire Choinnichean and Torr a' Bhalbhain Loop

This is a serious Knoydart hill day rather than a casual loop: about 12 km / 7.5 miles with roughly 800 m / 2,625 ft of ascent, climbing from sea level near Inverie onto the broad-backed Corbett of Sgùrr Coire Choinnichean before looping back by the lower ground of Torr a’ Bhalbhain. The route combines estate track, steep grassy hill paths, faint trods, and sections that can feel pathless on descent, so it suits confident hikers who are comfortable with rough Highland terrain and self-navigation in poor visibility using HiiKER. The mountain itself rises to 796 m / 2,612 ft and is known for its steep grassy flanks, dramatic ravine scenery, and a narrow, rocky summit ridge with one notably airy section before the final top. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The walk starts near Inverie, the main settlement on the Knoydart peninsula, at the east side of the village close to the road and track network leading into Glen Meadail and the Inverie River glen. A practical landmark for the start is Inverie village near the ferry landing and the east-end road out of the village, rather than a roadside car park, because Knoydart has no road access from the wider mainland road network. Inverie is reached most commonly by passenger ferry from Mallaig Ferry Terminal, Mallaig, and Knoydart Foundation visitor information notes that the easiest and most popular access is the ferry from Mallaig to Inverie. Mallaig itself is served by ScotRail at Mallaig Station, and Mallaig Harbour advises that ferry users should use nearby public car parks rather than rely on harbour parking. (knoydart.org)

The opening section is usually the gentlest underfoot. From Inverie, estate and forestry tracks lead out of the village and into the lower slopes, giving a relatively quick warm-up before the route steepens. Early on, the path climbs through or beside plantation ground and deer fencing, then breaks out onto open hillside where views begin to widen over Inverie, Loch Nevis, and the surrounding Rough Bounds. This lower part can be muddy after rain, and because the route starts almost at sea level, the climb feels sustained from the outset rather than being broken by a high starting point. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Climbing toward the ridge

Above the plantation, the route becomes more serious. Faint paths trend uphill in a generally north-northeast direction toward the dramatic cleft of Slochd a’ Mhogda. This ravine is one of the defining landscape features of the day: a deep, abrupt break in the hillside that adds a wild, almost oversized feel to the mountain. Walkhighlands describes the approach as giving views over the “great gulf” of the ravine, and the usual line keeps the gorge on your right before curving around its grassy rim to gain the ridge. In mist, this is one of the key places where line choice matters, because there may be several weak trods rather than one obvious built path. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Once the ridge is gained, the character changes again. The path becomes clearer, the ground narrows, and the mountain finally shows its more rugged side. The ridge is steep, slender, and rocky in places, though it is generally a hillwalk rather than a scramble in dry conditions. There is, however, an airy feel in one section, and strong winds can make this part much more committing than the map suggests. The west top sits at about 779 m / 2,556 ft, followed by the short continuation to the true summit at 796 m / 2,612 ft. On a clear day, this is a superb viewpoint over Loch Nevis, the Inverie glen, and the bigger Knoydart mountains beyond. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Descent and the Torr a’ Bhalbhain side of the loop

For a loop rather than an out-and-back, the descent continues beyond the summit ridge toward the broad bealach before Stob an Uillt-fhearna, then drops southeast into Coire Dubh and