An Sgarsoch

An Sgarsoch stands in the Grampian Mountains, on the Perthshire–Aberdeenshire line north of Blair Atholl. It is a rounded, grassy peak of modest height, with no dramatic crags or cliffs. The mountain lies far from roads and villages, surrounded by heather moor and bog. Its isolation is its chief feature, sitting between the Cairngorms and the Mounth. The upper waters of the River Dee flow close by on its eastern side. The journey to An Sgarsoch is part of its appeal. Walkers reach it by following the Dee upstream from Blair Atholl. The route crosses wide, empty straths and climbs gradually onto the moorland shoulder. No signposts or waymarks guide the way, so navigation skills are needed. The silence and space on the approach make the final climb feel like reaching the edge of the known world. On the summit a simple cairn marks the highest point. From here the view stretches across miles of unbroken heather and peat hags. The Cairngorms appear as a dark wall to the south-east. To the north-west the Mounth hills roll away in long, gentle ridges. No other people or buildings are visible, only the occasional raven circling above the bogs.