A COMPLETE traverse of all the Fannichs, the long, twisting ridge of Munros that runs between the Dirrie Mor in the north and Loch Fannich in the south, offers a challenging expedition, a group which equals the likes of the Mamores or the Grey Corries as one of the great high-level traverses of Scotland. A long switch-backed route offers a great variety of hill and mountain features. Most walkers will be happy to break the entire ridge down into day-sized chunks.

There are seven Munros on the main Fannichs ridge, with two more, A'Chailleach and Sgurr Breac, as outliers. The main ridge can be broken down into three good routes, taking in Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Sgurr na Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each as one route, Sgurr Mor and Beinn Liath Mor Fannaich as another, leaving the easternmost Munros of An Coileachan, 3,028ft/923m, and Meall Gorm, 3,113ft/949m, to be climbed easily from the south, from Fannich Lodge, a great little route that is well suited to the darkening days of winter.

Stronger walkers may well want to combine these two eastern Munros with Sgurr Mor and Beinn Liath Mor Fannaich. The four Munros can be climbed either from the north or the south and both approaches have advantages and disadvantages.

From the north the best approach is from the west end of Loch Droma from where a footpath follows a pipeline to a small power station on the Allt a'Mhadaidh. From the power station take to the heather-covered slopes on the south side of the river and climb on to the north ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich.

Descend steeply now to the upper rim of Coire a'Mhadaidh and follow the ridge as it curves gently round to Sgurr Mor with steep craggy ground falling away to your right and more open slopes to the left.

The final slopes are steep and lead to a huge summit cairn. Retrace your steps and continue in a south-southeast direction over the slabs of Meall nam Peithirean and around the crest of Coire Fhuar Thuill Mhoir to pick up a stalkers' path on Creachan Rairigidh.

Follow it in a south-east direction to the flat stony summit of Meall Gorm.

The wide ridge continues east, then south-east as it drops down to the Bealach Ban, before rising to An Coileachan.

Now comes the big disadvantage of this northerly approach. It's a long, long way back to the A835, over very rough and boggy ground. The best line is from the Bealach Ban, taking a diagonal line to reach the col between An Coileachan and its northern outlier, Meallan Buidhe. Easier slopes lead to the Abhainn a'Ghiubhais Li from where rough, tussocky and boggy ground runs down back to the A835.

The approach from the south, particularly if you just want to climb An Coileachan and Meall Gorm, is shorter and significantly easier, and makes for a delightful winter day.

You'll need to get permission to drive the seven miles from the Strathbran/ Achnasheen road, the A832, to Fannich Lodge as the gate at Grudie Power Station is normally locked but a mountain bike comes into its own on approaches like this and it's an easy cycle ride up to Fannich Lodge.

It's also worth remembering that this road is often blocked by snow in winter, so even cycling might be awkward.

From Fannich Lodge an excellent stalkers' path runs up the south ridge of Meall Gorm and gives easy access to AnCoileachan but, to make a good, round trip out of it you're better to climb An Coileachan by its south-west ridge.

From the summit the main Fannichs ridge rolls out towards the north-west, down to the Bealach Ban above the lovely Loch Gorm, and then over Meall Gorm's eastern top to the main summit atthe top of its Creachan Rairigidh ridge.

It's not a lot further to Sgurr Mor and you may well be tempted onwards but if the light is beginning to go backtrack a couple of hundred metres to find a stalkers' path that descends the south ridge of Meall Gorm all the way back to Fannich Lodge.

FACT FILE Map: OS Sheet 20 Access point: Fannich Lodge, GR 218660 Distance: 7 miles Approx time: 4-6 hours Route: At time of writing it isn't possible to drive from Grudie Bridge to Fannich Lodge (seven miles) but you can use a mountain bike. From Fannich Lodge climb the slopes of An Coileachan by its SW ridge. From the summit a broad ridge stretches in a NW direction to Meall Gorm and its two small tops. The true summit is the one with a windbreak shelter built near it. By backtracking from the summit for a short distance you'll find a stalkers' path descending the S ridge of Meall Gorm. This path descends all the way back to Fannich Lodge.

Fannich Estate: 01997 414318