Sgurr Mor, a rocky and steep peak between Loch Quoich and lonely Glen Kingie, must rank amongst the remotest Munros. Unless you have a kayak, the usual approach is from Glendessary to the south, involving a pass to Glen Kingie just to reach the foot of the mountain. The Corbett Sgurr an Fhuarain is easily included in the walk.
Summary
Very rough and remote walking. Much of the route is pathless, some parts steep and others are boggy; there are no easy escape routes.
Terrain
NM987916
Grid ref
24km/15 miles
Distance
Grade
Safety warning: Hillwalking when there is snow or ice lying requires ice-axe, crampons and the ability to use them. Some featured routes can become technical ice climbs. Check out our Winter Skills information provided by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
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Public transport
1. The minor road up Loch Arkaig is something of a roller-coaster journey; continue to the end of the public road where there is a turning area. There is space to park several cars with care on the rough verges a short distance back. Begin the walk by passing through the gate at the end of the road. Soon the track forks; take the left branch, which is signed for Morar and Tomdoun - both testing cross-country routes. Keep straight on along the track when the Tomdoun route goes off to the right shortly afterwards. The track briefly runs close by the river and there are good views up Glen Dessary, with the Corbett of Bidein a'Chabhair, its peaked summit, looking very prominent.
Photo: Kinley
2. Continue on the track until the bridge over the Allt na Feithe, with a small cottage visible ahead and the large, modern Glendessary Lodge beyond. Turn right immediately over the bridge onto a narrow path which heads up through the bracken. The path soon becomes clearer, passing through a gate before climbing up towards the pass. The gradient eases off at about 350 metres and there are first glimpses of Sgurr Mor and the neighbouring Corbett Sgurr an Fhuarain across the pass. The path crosses numerous small streams and becomes boggy as it continues across the flat top of the pass, before fading out completely, Continue northwards down the very boggy open slope into Glen Kingie.
3. Glen Kingie is one of the loneliest and emptiest glens in the Highlands and there is no bridge over the river in its upper reaches. It times of spate it may be impossible to cross, but in very dry weather it could be done dryshod; on the far side, aim directly uphill for the the bealach between Sgurr Mor and Sgurr an Fhuarain. The pathless slope is steep at mid-height (easier slightly to the left) but the ascent is mostly grassy, but there is no doubt this is a slog. On reaching the ridge, fine views are suddenly revealed down to Loch Quoich down the far side. Sgurr Mor may be the main objective of this walk for many, but for only a little extra effort it is worth including Sgurr an Fhuarain first; to do this, follow the ridge to the east. The ascent is straightforward and the summit is reached after a little over a kilometre; it is marked by a cyclindrical trig point and a neat cairn; it offers fine views, especially back along the ridge to the much grander mountain of Sgurr Mor.
4. Return along the ridge to the bealach and begin up Sgurr Mor. This ascent is shorter and steeper, but is aided by an old stalkers path from the days before the damming of Glen Quoich barred access from the north. The path goes off to the right of the ridge part way up and gains height in a series of delightful grassy zig-zags; this has become slightly indistinct and many walkers just plod up the ridge. There is a false summit before a final flat section leads to the large cairn marking the summit of Sgurr Mor. The views, over some of the wildest, most rugged country in Scotland, are fantastic, with the mountains of Knoydart in particular looking very grand. Pride of place in the view, however, goes to the sensational pointed summit of Sgurr na Ciche.
5. The quickest way back is to return to the bealach and retrace the outward route, but it is possible to vary the walk by taking in a longer section of the ridge, again using the old stalkers' path. The southwest ridge of Sgurr Mor is very steep and rocky and would be tricky without the path, which has a series of zig-zags along grassy ledges and loses the height much more easily. After a bealach at 740 metres the path rises again to cross the subsidiary summit of Sgurr Beag, 890 metres high, before a long descent with many more zig-zags to the lowest bealach on the ridge at 662 metres. Continue across this flat bealach and very slightly up the far side, where another stalkers path crosses the ridge; our route follows the path that runs across and gradually descends the left flank of the ridge; it is wet in places. After about 500 metres it doubles back to the left to continue the descent into Glen Kingie.
6. The path continues down the glen, slowly coming closer to the river. Once alongside a post and wire fence, find a convenient place to strike off, crossing the fence and the River Kingie. Contour round the often wet slopes on the far side, eventually gaining a little height to head back into the Feith a' Chicheanais pass crossed in the morning. Once through the pass pick up the path once more as it descends back into Glen Dessary and eventually meets the landrover track. Turn left to retrace your steps back to the start.
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