Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan

Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan is a Munro in the Northwest Highlands, standing between Glen Affric and Glen Elchaig. It rises to 1,151 metres and is the third highest mountain north of the Great Glen. The mountain covers 62 square kilometres and has a distinctive tent-like shape with long ridges stretching into the valleys. Five subsidiary tops lie on its ridges, including Stuc Bheag and Stuc Mòr on the northern ridge. The summit itself has twin peaks linked by a curving ridge, with the western pinnacle reaching 1,143 metres. A small scramble is needed to move between the two summits. The climb is considered one of the most difficult in Scotland because of its remoteness and height. E.J. Yeaman’s Handbook of the Scottish Hills ranks it the fourth-most difficult Munro to ascend. Approaches are long, with the shortest route starting from Alltbeithe youth hostel in upper Glen Affric. Other routes begin from Iron Lodge in Glen Elchaig or the car park in Strath Croe. The view from the top reveals remote mountain country, though Inverness and the Kessock Bridge can be seen on clear days over 70 kilometres away. The mountain’s Gaelic name means ‘peak of the quarters’, referring to the large area it divides with its ridges. Its outlier to the northeast, Mullach na Dheiragain, is a separate Munro. The ascent requires summer daylight hours and careful planning due to the distance from roads. The stalkers’ path from Alltbeithe leads to the col between Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan and An Socach, the latter a minor Munro that can be climbed with little extra effort. The summit offers a sense of isolation and vast open landscapes.