Sgor na h-Ulaidh and Beinn Fhionnlaidh [Glen Etive] Route Information

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Sgor na h-Ulaidh & Beinn Fhionnlaidh [Glen Etive]

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1760 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

6.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

16.86 km

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.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

41	Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
50	Glen Orchy & Loch Etive

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Moderate climb on grass leading to rocky slopes, This route avoids the worst of the crags, but there is some scrambling on Beinn Fhionnlaidh.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Kings House Hotel

From Kings House Hotel (A82) travel W 1.5km to junction (NN246550) then S on minor road to Glen Etive, stopping at Invercharnan.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,760 metres. Allow 6.5 hours to complete this 16.86 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start at Invercharnan in Glen Etive
		NN14384831	Distance	Altitude 40 m

1	Head SW on track through forest
		NN13584766	Distance 1.08 km	Altitude 92 m

2	Continue NW on track through forest
		NN12474813	Distance 1.26 km	Altitude 175 m

3	At path junction continue NW on track through forest
		NN12144879	Distance 0.73 km	Altitude 245 m

4	Shortly after the path junction the forest ends
		NN12014905	Distance 0.30 km	Altitude 260 m

5	Bear W to Meall nan Gobhar
		NN10634924	Distance 1.47 km	Altitude 595 m

6	Ascend N to minor top 841m
		NN10694978	Distance 0.55 km	Altitude 841 m

7	Follow winding ridge W
		NN10194984	Distance 0.52 km	Altitude 775 m

8	Continue W to summit of Beinn Fionnlaidh
		NN09504977	Distance 0.76 km	Altitude 959 m

9	Return E to 775m col
		NN10194984	Distance 0.76 km	Altitude 775 m

10	Follow ridge E back to 841m Top
		NN10694978	Distance 0.52 km	Altitude 841 m

11	Descend E to 450m altitude
		NN11254972	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 450 m

12	Bear N to cross Allt nan Gaoirean at bealach
		NN11135063	Distance 0.58 km	Altitude 450 m

13	Ascend N to summit of Sgor na h-Ulaidh
		NN11125180	Distance 1.18 km	Altitude 994 m

14	Descend SE to broad col (640m) leading to Meall a' Bhuirdh
		NN11805124	Distance 0.90 km	Altitude 640 m

15	Descend S to return to path and road through forest
		NN14384831	Distance 5.75 km	Altitude 40 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Bidean nan Bian
by Metcheck

Images of Sgor na h-Ulaidh & Beinn Fhionnlaidh [Glen Etive]

Sgor na h-Ulaidh seen from slopes up to Meall Lighiche; also shows descent route from Corr Beinne, ie steep snow slopes just to left of Beinne as viewed

Image by James Blair

View looking west towards Mull near summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh.

Image by Katerina Braun

Looking north from near the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh towards Sgor na h-Ulaidh.

Image by Craig Robinson

Sgor na h-Ulaidh from the summit of the Corbett Meall Lighiche. December 2008.

Image by David McSporran

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

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

Where to Stay

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 4 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Jonathan Small on 17 May 2011:

Tried to do this, starting in Glen Creran and being met in Glencoe, but the descent and re-ascent to Sgurr na h'Ulaidh proved too much for me that day. Strongly recommend the western approach to Fhionnlaidh though, much the better walk and views. Well worth the extra distance on road and foot.

Written by Craig Dunderdale on 01 May 2006:

Hard work in April up wet snow but Invercharnan is by far the best start. Once you've used the forrestry track turn due West and over one poorly and one well maintained corrugated bridges. Then follow the obvious path up the North side of the stream. At the bealach veer NNE and then the ridge West but keep an eye on the coire edge. Return the same way. Enjoyable day which took 4.5hrs.

Written by Alex Barr on 13 Jun 2005:

(June 2005) The worst midgie-cloud I've ever encountered at layby near Invercharnan Bridge. Then spent 30 minutes looking for start of forestry track. (Go through gate at front of Invercharnan, then between house and farm building) - Straightforward after that. Superb views all round after varied and interesting ascent.

Written by Steve Smart on 09 May 2005:

We did this route on May 7th 2005 and also included the corbett Beinn Maol Chaluim. Masses of ascent but well worth it.

Written by Anthony Angus on 17 Feb 2003:

A long hard slog is needed after leaving the path, to reach the ridge. We encountered very steep hard snowpacked slopes before reaching the top. On the descent beware of crags to the right (N) and if in doubt its better to overshoot the end of the ridge a little rather that turning North onto convex slopes which drop unexpectedly.

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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