Fannichs Traverse

Sent to us by Ben Smith-Price, whose 7 hours 14 minutes on 1st May 2022 is the first running time we've recorded for the Fannichs, this is a linear route taking in the Munros and Munro Tops of the range.

Ben said the route is c.38km with c.2,800m ascent depending on lines taken, and specified end points of the gate by the lay-by off the A832 (NH 16251 76067, his start) and the Torrandhu bridge (NH 27836 74188, his finish), with either direction possible. For his west-to-east run, the logical order of peaks is as follows:

• A' Chailleach
• Toman Còinnich
• Sgùrr Breac
• Sgùrr nan Each
• Sgùrr nan Clach Geala
• Meall a' Chrasgaidh
• Càrn na Crìche
• Sgùrr Mòr
• Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich
• Meall nam Peithirean
• Meall Gorm
• Meall Gorm SE Top*
• An Coileachan

* Ben's not 100% certain that he did Meall Gorm SE Top, but we're including it because he did at least all the others and probably this one (which will cost seconds rather than minutes) too, and all the Munro Tops are on the natural circuit without requiring deviations/doglegs to collect. He also said that:

'Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich [full Munro] is the only unavoidable there and back, the others can be avoided with some good lines. The whole traverse is on really nice runnable terrain and the only section that's a pain is the final descent [which could of course be ascent in the reverse direction] off An Coileachan down to Torrandhu bridge.'

On the 11th of May 2024, Luke Taylor set a new benchmark of 4 hours 50 minutes, running from west-to-east:

"It was perfect conditions on the day, if anything becoming a little too hot by early afternoon. I'd dropped my bike at the Torranddhu bridge, and was very glad of the new Corrieshalloch Gorge cafe for a pit stop en route back to the car. I'm sure someone has gone faster than this on the route, but I couldn't find any evidence on Strava despite having a good snoop. Plenty room for improvement on this time, so hope someone can head out and set a new benchmark."