Sgùrr an Airgid

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Summary

Sgùrr an Airgid may seem like the lowly neighbour amongst the peaks of Kintail, but don't be mistaken. Despite its lower height, it offers a relatively straightforward hillwalk revealing some of the area's most magnificent views. An excellent introduction to the higher mountains of the area.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Good zig-zag path up to ridge, then some boggy sections before final climb. Pathless detours suggested for best viewpoints near the summit.

Public Transport

Citilink buses from Glasgow and Inverness on A87 (request stop at drivers discretion).

Start

Clachan Duich burial ground car park. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 10.5km / 6.5 miles
Time (summer conditions): 4.5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 932m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG946212

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Sgùrr an Airgid

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (24)

Stage 1

Park at the Clachan Duibh burial ground car park. You can detour from here to visit the ruined church of St Dubhthach, and the war memorial on the grassy mound is well worth the short ascent for its fine views. To begin the walk proper, head through the kissing gate on the other side of the road to begin the ascent on a grassy track. This soon swings right, fords a burn amidst the trees and begins climbing. Soon there are fine views back over the loch.

Stage 2

The grassy track fords another burn and continues climbing; an old path from Lienassie comes in from the right. The route zig-zags left and then right, climbing across the slope. After a flatter section the track narrows to a path and heads through a gate in a fence. There are great views looking across into Gleann Lichd. Soon the slope steepens once more and the path ascends more zig-zags, climbing up to the left of a steep gully carved out by the Allt na Ruaraich.

Stage 3

When the slope eases once more, Sgùrr an Airgid's upper slopes can be seen to the left; continue uphill on the path until it reaches the broad, soggy ridge at a cairn. From here head more directly towards Sgùrr an Airgid; the path descends very slightly and becomes very boggy and less distinct for a time.

Stage 4

The path aims towards the slope just to the right of the rocky, ill-defined ridge. This section of the ascent is rather longer than it looks at first, with some false summits. The path becomes indistinct as it heads SW up the final grassy slope.

Stage 5

The summit of Sgùrr an Airgid is 841m; it is marked by the remains of a once cylindrical Ordnance Survey trig point. The views from here are robbed of depth by nearby slopes, though the Skye Bridge is visible in the distance; for a great aerial view down over the end of Loch Duich it's worth detouring about 100m south, a little downhill, to a group of rocks.

Stage 6

If you have time, it's also worth detouring 450m or so to the west to the pathless summit of Sgùrr na Seamraig. A cairn here gives a superb view over the lower reaches of Loch Alsh, with the Skye Bridge prominent and the Cuillin beyond.

Stage 7

The easiest descent route is to retrace your steps; from Sgùrr na Seamraig you can bypass the highest summit of Sgùrr an Airgid just to the north to regain the path. Once back down at the cairn, the zig-zag path down the slopes gives superb views across to Beinn Fhada and down to the head of Loch Duich the whole way.

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