It was a touch frosty when I left my car at the end of the public road north of Glencalvie Lodge after a drive west through Strathcarron, accessed from the A836 Tain to Bonar Bridge Road at Ardgay. I walked west along the vehicle track on the north side of the Alladale River as the sun rose on the hill tops.
![Start of route](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/01-Start-of-route.jpg)
![Sun on Carn Alladale](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/02-Sun-on-Carn-Alladale.jpg)
![Track to Alladale Lodge](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/03-Track-to-Alladale-Lodge.jpg)
At the junction with the vehicle track for Gleann Mor, where there were some new looking wooden buildings, I headed up the vehicle track towards Alladale Lodge.
![Alladale Lodge](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/04-Alladale-Lodge.jpg)
Immediately prior to the gates leading to this property the track continued west through the trees then lost the height just gained.
![Glen Alladale](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/05-Glen-Alladale.jpg)
After the accommodation, Ghillie’s Rest, and at the bridge over the Allt Riabhach where there was a small power station, ATV tracks ran north-west through a young plantation and onto the west ridge of Carn Alladale.
![Ghillie's Rest](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/06-Ghillies-Rest.jpg)
![Leitir Riabhach](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/07-Leitir-Riabhach.jpg)
![Amat Forest and Strathcarron](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/08-Amat-Forest-and-Strathcarron.jpg)
It was then a steep climb to reach the cairn marking the summit of this Graham Top where after the calm in the glen there was now a cold breeze.
![Carn Chuinneag](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/09-Carn-Chuinneag.jpg)
![Carn Ban](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/10-Carn-Ban.jpg)
![Seana Bhraigh](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/11-Seana-Bhraigh.jpg)
![Carn a' Choin Deirg South Top](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12-Carn-a-Choin-Deirg-South-Top.jpg)
The descent west of north led to a deer fence with an additional loss of height to reach a gate secured with a combination lock. The numbers required to open the lock where displayed on a fence post but unfortunately the lock was rusted shut so I had to climb over the gate. An undulating and twisting ridge led to the Graham Top, Carn a’ Choin Deirg South Top. The highest point was apparently a rock but they were several of them.
![Route onto Carn a' Choin Deirg](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/13-Route-onto-Carn-a-Choin-Deirg.jpg)
My walk continued north descending to a small lochan then making the easy ascent to the summit of the Graham, Carn a’ Choin Deirg, marked by a trig point. The earlier sun had been replaced by a few light showers.
![Carn Alladale and Carn a' Choin Deirg South Top](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/14-Carn-Alladale-and-Carn-a-Choin-Deirg-South-Top.jpg)
![Leitir Riabhach. Strathcarron beyond](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/15-Leitir-Riabhach.-Strathcarron-beyond.jpg)
![Towards Strath Mulzie](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/16-Towards-Strath-Mulzie.jpg)
![Towards Strath Oykel](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/17-Towards-Strath-Oykel.jpg)
I descended north-east to the col with Carn Beag then east and south-east working my way through or round the numerous peat hags to reach the col with Leitir Riabhach.
![Loch nan Spreidh](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/18-Loch-nan-Spreidh.jpg)
On its ascent there was little change in the underfoot conditions although there might have been fewer peat hags to contend with. The summit of this Tump was either a quartz boulder or the top of several peat hags, all of which I visited.
![Carn a' Choin Deirg and Loch an Tuill Riabhaich](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/19-Carn-a-Choin-Deirg-and-Loch-an-Tuill-Riabhaich.jpg)
It was initially an easy descent south-east through the peat hags but later became a bit more awkward as I followed a deer fence. A tied down gate was crossed then a long stretch of boggy ATV track led to the vehicle track used earlier in the day, 680 metres east of where I had left it.
![Route from Leitir Riabhach](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20-Route-from-Leitir-Riabhach.jpg)
I then returned to the start by the outward route without spotting or meeting anyone all day.
- Time taken – 6.5 hours.
- Distance – 19 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 880 metres.