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Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid


Postby AnnieMacD » Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:14 pm

Route description: Sgùrr an Airgid

Corbetts included on this walk: Sgùrr an Airgid

Date walked: 27/11/2014

Time taken: 5.1 hours

Distance: 10.1 km

Ascent: 864m

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Track_2014-11-27 Sgurr an Airgit.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Total time: 5 hours 7 minutes
Walking: 3 hours 32 minutes
Stopped: 1 hour 35 minutes

This hill has been on my list for a while and I put it near the top after reading The Rodmeister's account of his walk with all the superlatives - just made it irresistible! Well, when the days were longer, the bigger hills and those further away kept calling but now the days are short and it was Thanksgiving Day (which means I get a day off midweek), so the Money hill it was!

The weather forecasts were mixed but it looked like West was Best.

I parked at the burial ground on the wee road to Morvich. Just across the road is a gate which takes you up on the hill path.

Beautiful Beinn Fhada (west end) from the car park.
ImageSgurr an Airgid by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Looking back to Sgurr an t-Searraich, the burial ground and causeway.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-2 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

There is a great path all the way up to the bealach. It zig-zags easily up the hillside and no part of it is very steep. Also, there are lots of flattish parts so one can get one's breath back and look back at the amazing views.

Sgurr an t-Searraich across the causeway, Sgurr Mhic Bharraich in the other side of Loch Duich.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-3 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

To the south-east, Beinn Fhada dominates the view and is now high on my list for next year. I would dearly love to walk this west ridge but apparently there is a 'bad step' which is probably not within my capabilities :(

Morvich and Beinn Fhada.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-4 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Gaining height, one starts to see Gleann Lichd which eventually leads into Glen Affric.

BF, Strath Croe, Morvich and Gleann Lichd.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-6 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

And again, zoomed in.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-7 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

To the west is mighty Beinn Sgritheall hiding behind Mam Ratagan and its top also appears as you gain height.

Beinn Sgritheall and Beinn a'Chapuill with Ratagan village by the loch-side.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-8 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Higher up, the houses and cars look like toys! I just started to see the Saddle and South Shiel ridge when the cloud gradually dropped to hide the tops.

The Saddle is just about visible.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-9 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

At the bealach there is a nice cairn so even in mist one would know where to start the descent. On the map it looks like the path continues but it wasn't obvious to me as the only branch seemed to be the one heading left for Sgurr an Airgid!

The cairn at the bealach. You can't see the summit from here as it's set back quite a bit.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-10 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

As the cloud dropped, the light and rays changed the landscape.

Rays over Coire na Criche.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-11 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

A' Glas-bheinn and Beinn Fhada (west end).
ImageSgurr an Airgid-12 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

As the weather was closing in I took as many photos as possible when I got up on the summit ridge.

The Torridon and Achnashellach hills - sun shining brightly on Beinn Damh.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-13 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

The Applecross hills.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-14 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Weather closing in on Skye. Sgurr na Seamraig right of centre.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-16 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Looking over to the Mam Ratagan road - Beinn Sgritheall now in the cloud.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-17 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

From just past the summit you can look down over Loch Duich.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-18 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

By this time the cloud was in and out and I went back to the summit with the intention of going on to the subsidiary top of Sgurr na Seamraig which is only a hop and skip away but looks to be a good viewpoint to the north and west. However, after waiting five minutes I knew there wasn't much chance of the cloud lifting so just headed back down the hill.

Summit trig point.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-19 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

As I was descending from the summit plateau I met three people from Wisconsin who were up there to celebrate Thanksgiving! They were on the way up but doubt that they got any views at all from the top.

The cloud creeping down the hillside.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-20 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Beinn Fhada looking grand. Can't wait to go up there!
ImageSgurr an Airgid-21 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Morvich and Gleann Lichd.
ImageSgurr an Airgid-22 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Beinn Fhada. Enough said!
ImageSgurr an Airgid-23 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

I made pretty quick work of the descent (as the path is so good) and just after going through the gate in the deer fence met the local shepherd going up to gather the sheep in. We were having a chat when we heard the skirl of the pipes way down below in the burial ground. Wow, goose bumps all around! Apparently, some people were filming something but nevertheless I finished my walk to the sound of the bagpipes on a truly Scottish hillside. (I hope the Americans heard them).

"And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside, You'll see a piper play his soldier home."
ImageSgurr an Airgid-24 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Fantastic half-day outing - highly recommended.
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby The Rodmiester » Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:25 pm

Hi AnnieMacD, I hope the hill lived up to your expectation. Envious of your photographs, superb, pity the cloud came in but looks like you got your timing right :D Would you do it again?
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby AnnieMacD » Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:29 pm

The Rodmiester wrote:Hi AnnieMacD, I hope the hill lived up to your expectation. Envious of your photographs, superb, pity the cloud came in but looks like you got your timing right :D Would you do it again?

Oh yes, for sure. I want to do it in better weather and wander over to the other top. I forgot to thank you for your great report - it was very inspiring. It's such an easy hill for a Corbett and you start at sea-level.
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby The Rodmiester » Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:46 pm

AnnieMacD wrote:
The Rodmiester wrote:Hi AnnieMacD, I hope the hill lived up to your expectation. Envious of your photographs, superb, pity the cloud came in but looks like you got your timing right :D Would you do it again?

Oh yes, for sure. I want to do it in better weather and wander over to the other top. I forgot to thank you for your great report - it was very inspiring. It's such an easy hill for a Corbett and you start at sea-level.


That makes me very pleased! Your right it did not seem like a climb from sea level, it was such a nice gradient and much of the underfoot conditions were pretty good as well. Who knows we might just pick the same day for a repeat climb, now that would be something, anyhow look forward to seeing more of your photographs in due course :D
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Thu Dec 04, 2014 6:53 pm

Beautiful Annie - thank you. :clap: :clap: You really make the hills come alive with your reports. This hill is high on our 'to do' list - we're hoping to join Dogplodder and friends in the near future. You photos are stunning as always - I really find seeing other people's reports and photos invaluable when I do the walk myself. Your story of the piper in the graveyard sent shivers up my neck ...

... and there's always Beinn Fadda and Beinn Sgritheall ... yes next year's list is already long :lol: :lol:
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby dogplodder » Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:59 pm

This looks a stunning hill for a winter's day and your photos show off the views so well I'm raring to go! 8)
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Anne C » Sat Dec 06, 2014 6:22 pm

You must be as fit as a fiddle Annie, you fairly get around these mountains! Quite some views over Loch Duich.Folk from Wisconsin - who would have thought? :crazy:
We attended a family funeral in that tiny graveyard some years ago, a very beautiful spot ( as with so many of these old burial grounds.)
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Gordie12 » Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:03 pm

That looks like a good choice of hill for the limited winter daylight - great photos.
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Collaciotach » Sun Dec 07, 2014 6:52 pm

Glé mhath :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby chrisprovan » Sun Dec 07, 2014 9:40 pm

Great read and I love the photos !! Excellent
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby BlackPanther » Mon Dec 08, 2014 7:58 pm

Stunning photos as always, even with a bit of grey cloud in the background :D

I see you started from the cemetery. We did this one from Morvich National Trust car park, slightly longer route, but after a short trudge up the slope we fount the very same path. Only in our case there was deep snow everywhere... Lovely hill for winter conditions. Thanks for a wee trip down the memory lane.

I've been hoping for snow and we got it eventually, but Kevin's working six days a week in pre-Xmass rush and we simply have no time for hillwalking now. At least there is WalkHighlands forum to keep me in good mood :lol:
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Fife Flyer » Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:28 pm

Nice one Annie, enjoyed that :clap: :clap:
You have some stunning photo's, loved the one's of the causeway from high & low :wink:
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby kevsbald » Tue Dec 09, 2014 11:24 am

Cracking wee report - some lovely shots - a must-do before my next trip to Skye methinks.
Lucky you, living in Applecross.
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Sarah86 » Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:46 pm

Beautiful set of photos, I particularly lie the 3rd one from the top. A beautiful looking area, the views are wonderful and I think a bit of cloud adds atmosphere, really lovely
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Re: Show me the Money - Sgurr an Airgid

Postby Petr Dakota » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:51 pm

Beautiful photos from beautiful area ! :clap:
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