Sgùrr an Lochain

Sgùrr an Lochain stands near the head of Glen Shiel in the Northwest Highlands. Its Gaelic name means ‘peak of the little loch’, and the small loch lies in the corrie below the summit. The mountain is the third highest of seven Munros along the South Glen Shiel Ridge, a fourteen-kilometre chain of peaks between Glen Shiel and Glen Quoich. The ridge’s northern side is rocky and broken by deep corries, while the southern slopes drop away in steep grassy flanks. Sgùrr an Lochain’s sharp summit rises above the western half of the ridge and is widely regarded as its most striking peak. Walkers often include the mountain in a full ridge traverse, which can start from either end. The eastern route begins at the Cluanie Inn beside Loch Cluanie, while the western route starts at the Malagan Bridge on the A87. A direct climb from Glen Shiel is possible but rarely chosen. From Glen Quoich a stalkers’ path leads up to the ridge west of the subsidiary summit Sgùrr Beag. The traverse links several Munros, including Creag nan Damh and Creag a’ Mhaim, making it a favourite among peak-baggers. The summit itself is marked by a cairn and offers wide views across the surrounding glens and lochs. To the north the steep northern flanks fall into Coire Rèidh, and to the east the ridge continues to the 1 010-metre Sgùrr an Doire Leathain. Between the two peaks lies Coire an Lochain, where a small lochan gives the mountain its name. The ridge’s rocky outcrops and deep gullies contrast with the smoother slopes of the corries, creating a varied and dramatic landscape for those who reach the top.