Sgurr na Lapaich, Glen Affric

[KC Pendragon]

Spent a wonderful day yesterday walking Càrn Eige, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Mam Sodhail and demoted Munro Sgùrr na Lapaich. Anyone know the reason for demotion? As it can’t be due to height, guessing it must be something to do with insufficient distance from Mam Sodhail?

[al78]

I didn't think Sgurr na Lapaich was ever a munro. It is likely because of its lack of prominance on the ridge.

[rockhopper]

I think you're not alone in wondering why it was demoted to a Munro top. It was on Sir Hugh's original Munro list but was subsequently demoted in 1921.
Certainly tall enough, there's a reasonable distance from the nearest Munro and, while there is quite a descent, the reascent is about 100m - 150m.
Dare I, perhaps controversially, suggest that it was too far off the south Mullardoch Munros' "red route" and was demoted as a result ?

[jmarkb]

I don't think anyone really knows. As far as I can tell, there isn't any rationale for the demotion recorded in the 1921 edition, or in Munro's notes, unlike some other cases. It has been suggested as a promotion candidate several times since: it has 110m of reascent, though there are 7 other Munro Tops with more than this.

[KC Pendragon]

I didn't think Sgurr na Lapaich was ever a munro. It is likely because of its lack of prominance on the ridge.

Thanks but it definitely was.

[KC Pendragon]

I think you're not alone in wondering why it was demoted to a Munro top. It was on Sir Hugh's original Munro list but was subsequently demoted in 1921.
Certainly tall enough, there's a reasonable distance from the nearest Munro and, while there is quite a descent, the reascent is about 100m - 150m.
Dare I, perhaps controversially, suggest that it was too far off the south Mullardoch Munros' "red route" and was demoted as a result ?

Haha, who doesn’t love a bit of controversy? 👍

[KC Pendragon]

I don't think anyone really knows. As far as I can tell, there isn't any rationale for the demotion recorded in the 1921 edition, or in Munro's notes, unlike some other cases. It has been suggested as a promotion candidate several times since: it has 110m of reascent, though there are 7 other Munro Tops with more than this.

Thanks! Always grateful for the knowledge of the WH community

[The Rec]

I remember looking across to this one from Tom a Choinnich and worrying that I'd missed one out doing the Mullardoch Round, so I'm rather glad it's not one.

That said there seems to be plenty of Munros that seem less worthy!

[WalkWithWallace]

It deserves to be a Munro in its own right, there's other ones that are more questionable. Glad I've done it, should it ever get promoted again.

[al78]

I didn't think Sgurr na Lapaich was ever a munro. It is likely because of its lack of prominance on the ridge.

Thanks but it definitely was.

It has since been stated it was demoted in 1921, and my Munros book doesn't list it as a munro, hence why I was confused.

[BlackPanther]

It deserves to be a Munro in its own right, there's other ones that are more questionable. Glad I've done it, should it ever get promoted again.

Absolutely agree, it should be a Munro Especially as it is my local hill

I have recently done the outlying tops of Ben Wyvis and had similar thoughts about Tom a'Choinnich...

Tom a'Choinnich from the summit of Wyvis

[jmarkb]

For anyone interested, there is a spreadsheet detailing all the historical status of the Munros and Tops which you can download from http://www.hills-database.co.uk/downloads.html

[jmarkb]

I have recently done the outlying tops of Ben Wyvis and had similar thoughts about Tom a'Choinnich...

I thought you were going to say Glas Leathad Beag - it has 132m of re-ascent, the second most of any Munro Top.

I don't think there is any current appetite in the SMC for further changes to the list based on subjective criteria or to impose some rule for inclusion (either just re-ascent or something more complicated as for the Donalds).

[KC Pendragon]

I remember looking across to this one from Tom a Choinnich and worrying that I'd missed one out doing the Mullardoch Round, so I'm rather glad it's not one.

That said there seems to be plenty of Munros that seem less worthy!

[KC Pendragon]

It deserves to be a Munro in its own right, there's other ones that are more questionable. Glad I've done it, should it ever get promoted again.

It’s a lovely ridge