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Sgor na h'Ulaidh from Achnachon, Glen Coe

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Fort William Lochaber

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 3900 feet / 1182 metres

Time - 7 hours 50 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 384Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Ordnance Survey Landranger 41Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 41Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Sgor na h'Ulaidh from Achnachon, Glen Coe
Click image to visit gallery of 5 images.

While most mountain walkers in the UK are likely to have heard of the Glen Coe valley in Scotland, few are likely to instantly recognise the name of one of its Munros, Sgor na h'Ulaidh, let alone know how to pronounce it (if they are English).

If this mountain was in England, it would be on every hill-walkers want-to-do list (if they had not already climbed it) as it would be the highest peak in the country at 3,258 feet. Instead, this peak hides behind the Bidean Nam Bian massif and is only likely to be visited by those wanting to tick a box on a list of Munros. This is a pity as this is a fine steep and rugged mountain in itself. It does not easily link up with any other summits, making it less attractive than Munros which do. It has a fine, rocky summit and on its northern slope it has a rather interesting scramble on the way down, though some will prefer to avoid it.

Start by parking the car off the road near to Achnachon before reaching the Glen Coe valley, if approaching from the west. Follow the path up the Gleann-leac-na-muidhe valley bearing south-west alongside the river Allt na muidhe. With the walk's main objective in view to the right, there follows a pathless ascent up grassy felllside of around 2,000 feet to gain the ridge that leads to it. Once you have reached the crest of the Aonach Dubh a' Ghillnoc ridge, you pass over the minor top of Stob an Fhuarain. The route now goes down into a dip before the final climb up to the top of Sgor na h'Ulaidh, a rocky summit with, on a clear day, a view of Ben Nevis itself slightly east of north. As with the ascent, there is no path down and so it is a matter of picking your way down the slope to the north. Depending on your route choice, there is one unexpectedly different section comprising steep rocky slopes where the use of hands as well as feet is essential. This section will either be viewed as awkward or a challenge depending on your perception. Or it can be avoided altogether by a detour to left or right.

If you do not wish to repeat the outgoing route to return to the car park, a variation can be done by including the Corbett, Meall Mor, on the way back though this would entail some additional ascent. If you did attempt the scramble and found it the least bit challenging, seeing the Aonach Eagach ridge across the Glen Coe valley on the return route puts things into perspective.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1162 Pap of Glencoemoderate4.2 miles
Walk 1234 Pap of Glencoe (Route B)moderate4.2 miles
Walk 3000 Sgorr Nam Fiannaidh & Stob Coire Leithhard6.2 miles
Walk 3322 Sgurr na Ciche (Pap of Glencoe)moderate4.2 miles
Walk 2955 Ridges & peaks of Bidean Nam Bianvery hard10.5 miles
Walk 2554 The Lost Valley, Glen Coeeasy/mod4.2 miles
Walk 3251 Bidean nam Bian via Stob Coire nan Lochan, Glencoehard5.0 miles
Walk 2808 Buachaille Etive Beag, Glen Coehard9.0 miles
Walk 1496 WHW - Day 6 - Kinlocheven to Fort Williammoderate15.0 miles
Walk 3106 Binnein Mor from Kinlochlevenhard10.2 miles

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