Home   Glossary

Sgorr Dhearg (Beinn a' Bheithir)

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
1024 m (3359 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN05695583
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
107 of 282 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Red rocky peak (Hill of the thunderbolt)
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  41   Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Beinn a' Bheithir is the classic horseshoe ridge with two peaks rated as Munros, Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill. These peaks are less than 2km apart and always climbed together.

Sgorr Dhearg has a long rocky N ridge and an E ridge to Sgurr Ban which then branches to produce N and NE ridges. Finally the W ridge connects to Sgor Dhonuill at a high col (757m).

The NE ridge is the most common ascent route from Ballachulish but an ascent can also be made from Gleann a Chaolais S to the col between Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill.

Hazards you may encounter on Sgorr Dhearg include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags within 1km of summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Sgorr Dhearg

Approaching the summit of Sgorr Dhearg (Beinn a' Bheithir) in spring.

© Bill Wales
Image by Bill Wales

Beinn a' Bheithir taken looking northwest from Beinn Fhionnlaidh

© Ian Munro
Image by Ian Munro

Approaching the summit of Sgorr Dhearg (Beinn a' Bheithir), note the clear path worn on the ridge.

© Bill Wales
Image by Bill Wales

View from the summit of Sgorr Dhearg looking over Loch Leven towards the Mamores and Ben Nevis.

© Craig Robinson
Image by Craig Robinson
View All 32 Images for Sgorr Dhearg

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		West Highlands
by Met Office 		Bidean nan Bian
by Metcheck
Sgorr Dhearg Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Sgorr Dhearg.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Sgorr Dhearg
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1395 m 14.10 km 5.5 hrs Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill  Moderate climb with a short easy scramble at the top of the first ascent.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Sgorr Dhearg

  Baggers Gallery for Sgorr Dhearg

On the way to Sgorr Dhonuill

© Martin Grady
Image by Martin Grady

My first Munro - it had to be this one which we can see clearly from our lounge window.

© Pauline Selby
Image by Pauline Selby

Lynda at summit of Sgorr Dhearg 9th Apr 2011 - panoramic views from Ben Nevis and Mamores around to Glencoe hills.

© Lynda Langlands
Image by Lynda Langlands

Scott at summit of Sgorr Dhearg 9th Apr 2011 - Sgor Dhonuill behind still to climb.

© Lynda Langlands
Image by Lynda Langlands
View All 16 Baggers Images for Sgorr Dhearg
The logging section stores any entries for Sgorr Dhearg in your own log. From here you can
  1. Add a route log entry that includes this mountain
  2. Write a full account of your route including photos
  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
  4. Delete your log entry
  Logging
Your Route Log
You need to be a member to have a route log.
Recently Climbed By
Stephen Ferrie on 30 Sep 2023
Will Gilbertson on 09 Jul 2023
Adam Burley on 28 May 2023
David McSporran on 19 Apr 2023

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Doug Tulloch
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Philip McLoone
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Alasdair Cairns
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by William McGilvray
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Mark Rudzinski
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Alan Parker
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Douglas Mason
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by Paul Buchanan
Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill
by David McSporran

Post a few words about Sgorr Dhearg or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 8 comments. Would you like to view all 8?
Patrick Adamson
wrote on
March 24, 2013
As usual I really enjoyed this walk, even in summer you see no one. Taking Ralph Storer's route, the climb to the ridge from the Glen Creran footpath behind Ballachulish village is steep and exciting. You are on the ridge in a relatively short time with amazing views over Loch Leven on the way if you take your eyes off the 45 degree, smooth slope you scramble up near the top of Sgorr Bhan. Ralph calls it 'invigorating' which understates it a bit. One of my favourite Glen Coe walks this one!
James Corrigan
wrote on
July 26, 2011
Took the route out of Ballachulish and Gleann a Chaolais. Parked behind the visitor centre and headed up past the Supermarket to the Laroch bridge. Crossed this and sharp left up to the School.Turned right through a rusty gate and on to open hillside and up to Sgorr Bhan.You soon meet a fence but easy to get over.Soon again a well beaten path appears that skirts to the East and up the shoulder of Sgor Bhan.Views are dramatic over Loch Leven with the Ballachulish village dwarfed below.Passed several Cairns then the impressive arc of Sgor Dhearg appears.As height is gained the magnificence of this increases and Sgorr Dhonuill comes in to view.The ground gets very loose and rocky for the steep pull to the summit Cairn.Looked over to Sgorr a Choise and Meall Mor which i climbed the day before.The Momores and Ben Nevis.Sgor na-Ulaidh.Bidean.Aonach Eagach.Loch Linnhe and so much more takes up your time and admiration.Next stop Sgor Dhonuill with 300m drop to the Beallach.
Adam Rixon
wrote on
May 8, 2010
Why some guidebooks don't choose the NW ridge / Sgorr Bhan route as the best way up Beinn a' Bheithir is a mystery. The NW ridge is fantastic in itself, with easy scrambling toward the top and ever-expanding panoramas, but the icing on the cake is the stunning curved arete between Sgorr Bhan and Sgorr Dhearg (particularly attractive under snow). We descended via the 757m col and forestry tracks and it would have made for a vastly inferior ascent route. I'd definitely recommend following the MM route to get the best out of this seriously impressive mountain.
Ian Mather
wrote on
June 28, 2009
Just to add to what Graham wrote.When coming down the coire and nearing the forest the old broken down boundary fence between Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill is an excellent guide for the rough path through the forest on to the track.
Graham Scott
wrote on
June 24, 2007
Recommended route makes for a great day out, only warning, when descending from the bealach keep to the east of the coire especially when you hit the forest as the path is indistinct and if you lose it in the forest you will find it hard going.
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.

  Route Write-Ups
There are no Route Write-Ups submitted for Sgorr Dhearg
 
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us