A rough and rocky hill in a quiet backwater above the head of Loch Creran, Beinn Sgulaird makes an excellent shorter Munro day - but with a start at sea level it's still one with plenty of ascent. Standing apart from the neighbouring Etive and Glen Coe peaks, Sgulaird is a bit of a loner, and hard to incorporate into a manageable or logical larger round. Most walkers will be content with the standard linear up-and-back route, and this is one of those rare Munros on which that is probably the most enjoyable way to do it.
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Height Profile
metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NN0084845046 Follow the farm track uphill past the houses at Druimnavuic. Beyond the felled forestry the track zigzags left and then back right.
2
NN0145144571 Turn off at a cairn marking a footpath which climbs the steep lower part of Beinn Sgulaird's long west ridge. On nearing a minor summit (point 488m on the map) the path skirts just right of the top, traversing northeast above broken crags before cutting back right to descend to a little col.
3
NN0254444993 Cross a fence on the bealach and continue on the clear path, at first just to the right of the ridge crest, making a long, steady, and occasionally soggy, climb up to the first main summit on the ridge. As height is gained the ground becomes more rocky and interesting. Cross a little col to reach the top of the next rocky summit (point 863m on the map). Descend steep rubbly ground into a lower col before a rocky climb onto the summit of Meall Garbh.
4
NN0476845187 Another rough, steep descent leads to a further col on the ridge. From this point follow the well-defined south ridge, a long enjoyable ascent on slabby granite and boulders. Before the top there's a tiny section of easy scrambling, best done just to the left of the crest. The cairn on top marks one of the finest viewpoints in the west highlands.
5
NN0529846081 Any circuit from here would be long and contrived, so it's probably best to return how you came, enjoying the sea views on the way.
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Distance: 7.46 miles (12 km)Total ascent: 1,240m
Time: 4 – 6 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Roadside parking on the Loch creran loop road, by the entrance to the track just beyond Druimavuic, NN008450
Nearest town:
Oban
Terrain:
A clear path all the way, quite rough and rocky in places although there's no real scrambling.
Seasonal variations:
Some of the steeper ground needs care in winter conditions, but it's largely a straightforward winter Munro day.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: West Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands
Public transport:
Local bus along the A828, but you won't get nearer than that by public transport.
Guidebooks:
The Munros (SMC)
Maps:
OS Explorer 377 (1:25,000), OS Explorer 384 (1:25,000), Harvey/BMC Ben Nevis (1:40,000), OS Landranger 50 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Ballachulish (08452 255 121); Oban (01631 563 122)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
- Meall na Teanga & Sron a' Choire Ghairbh - The Loch Lochy Munros 6 Nov, 2023
- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023
- Loch Ossian round - Seven Munros by Train 15 Sep, 2023
- Beinn Dronaig - 30km of Solitude 23 Aug, 2023
Remember to include the Corbett: this is one of those hills when it is definitely worth planning ahead to what you'll do when you finish your Munros.
Future proofing... could be wise. I didn't think it looked interesting enough to repay all the backtracking, but maybe that was unfair? Like a lot of folk on the hills I'm not collecting Munros, let alone Corbetts, but if we did ever start then I guess we may come to regret never having done it when it would've been easy. Then again, would a return trip be a bad thing?
Well said!
Less backtracking than just returning the same way as you recommend! I combined Sgulaird with the Corbett a few weeks ago - it was straightforward to cut across and down to the bealach between them from a low point on Sgulaird's ridge. Having beeem out to the Corbett, I cut backtracked part way and then cut down to the track down from the bealach which gave a pleasant way off,
Or you could choose an epic day out up the north face of the hill via a short grade I-ish gully in dodgy avalanche conditions with 9 unroped people, 4 who had never used an ice axe till that day! Memorable day out especially after driving up from Glasgow that morning with a Tenant's lager induced hangover following a Four Tet gig in the Barras the night before.
Means I have to go back and do the Corbett another time though....