Few big Scottish hills rise from sea to summit quite as abruptly as Beinn Sgritheall. Guarding the entrance to Loch Hourn, this steep-sided wedge of rock and scree has a truly gull's eye outlook over the water to the hills of Knoydart, and out to Rum and Skye. Sgritheall is generally treated as a solitary entity, being the sole 3000-footer in the Glenelg hinterland, but if you discount Munro status it can be seen for what it really is - just one peak of many jostling along the north shore of the loch. Combining several of them makes for a logical, challenging round. The standard Sgritheall-only graunch from Arnisdale in the south has brevity on its side, but this longer circuit from the north offers more, from the fascinating brochs of Gleann Beag to the wild, cliffy corrie scenery on the under-appreciated north side of the Munro. And if bagging's your game, there's something here on three different lists - the knobbly Graham Beinn a' Chapuill; Munro Beinn Sgritheall itself; and a pair of fine Corbetts, Beinn na h-Eaglaise and Beinn na Caorach.
14 miles, 22.50 km, 1,723m ascent, 9 – 11 hours. Kyle of Lochalsh
