Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe and Sgurr na Carnach Route Information

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Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe & Sgurr na Carnach

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

1809 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

7.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

20.24 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

33	Loch Alsh, Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn

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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

A moderate to strenuous route on the "Five Sisters of Kintail" involving some relatively easy scrambling. This is a classic route.

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: Shiel Bridge

From Shiel Bridge (A87) travel 11km SW to parking.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,809 metres. Allow 7.5 hours to complete this 20.24 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 from parking by A87 road
		NH00881354	Distance	Altitude 195 m

1	Ascend N on steep slopes to Bealach na Lapaich
		NH00741452	Distance 1.01 km	Altitude 730 m

2	Head WNW on ridge to Sgurr na Spainteach
		NG99161501	Distance 1.71 km	Altitude 990 m

3	Continue W on ridge (parallel ribs separated by rocky depression) to Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe
		NG98391496	Distance 0.85 km	Altitude 1027 m

4	Head W turning NW on ridge to col (850m)
		NG97761546	Distance 0.95 km	Altitude 850 m

5	Ascend N to Sgurr na Carnach
		NG97721588	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 1002 m

6	Continue N on ridge to Sgurr Fhuaran (the highest of the 5 sisters)
		NG97851669	Distance 0.84 km	Altitude 1067 m

7	Descend N to ridge then NNW to Sgurrr nan Saighead
		NG97451778	Distance 1.27 km	Altitude 929 m

8	Head NW on ridge to Beinn Bhuidhe
		NG96961816	Distance 0.66 km	Altitude 869 m

9	Follow broad ridge NW to col (440m)
		NG95401887	Distance 1.75 km	Altitude 440 m

10	Descend SW to bridge
		NG94741813	Distance 1.01 km	Altitude 7 m

11	Cross river and head SSW to A87 road
		NG94661793	Distance 0.23 km	Altitude 10 m

12	Head SE (uphill) on road unless you can plan to park a second car here.
		NG96291492	Distance 3.80 km	Altitude 27 m

13	Continue SE on road
		NG98861301	Distance 3.38 km	Altitude 148 m

14	Continue ENE to car park
		NH00881354	Distance 2.29 km	Altitude 195 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Ladhar Bheinn
by Metcheck

Images of Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe & Sgurr na Carnach

The Five Sisters of Kintail (left to right: Sgurr na Moraich, Sgurr nan Saighead, Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Carnach and partly behind it Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe) from the north-west. From the A890 road above Nostie.

Image by David S Brown

Sgurr nan Saighead and Sgurr Fhuaran from NW

Image by Graham Avis

From near the summit of Sgurr Fhuaran, looking down the seldom-walked east ridge towards the remote upper part of Glen Licht.

Image by David S Brown

The north face of Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe seen from the slopes of Sgurr na Carnach

Image by David S Brown

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

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 9 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Mike Watson on 17 Sep 2007:

Even in the mist & rain this was a good route. Path up to the bealach probably the worst part. We didnt drop off down the glenshiel but continued down over a good stalkers path to the parking at the Jacobite restaurant where our car was (took a taxi to the start)

Written by Peter Sinclair on 03 Feb 2007:

A truly exhilarating route in a stunning part of Scotland - Do Not Miss It!! NOTE ON COMPLETING THE ROUTE ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY 2007 DISCOVERED THAT THE BRIDGE AT MAP REF. NG94741813 HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN RECENT FLOODS AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO CROSS. WORTHWHILE CHECKING THE CONDITION OF BRIDGE BEFORE STARTING ROUTE

Written by Sc Joss on 01 Aug 2006:

Rather than doing the full ridge we did this route from the Bridge (marked Glen Sheil 1719 on map) straight up ridge on Sgurr na ciste Duibh to corrie, then onto the top. We came off Sgurr Fhuaran by the WNW ridge and cut across to Achnangat. This cuts the walk back to the car substantially although it would have been nice to go over Sgurr na Saighead. Classic ridge, beautiful weather. This route took about 7.5 hours (with 2 children, 9 and 11).

Written by R K on 16 Jun 2005:

To complete the 5 Sisters of Kintail from Beinn Bhuidhe, go north then north west along ridge and lesser path to Sgurr na Moraich, only another 100m cimb, and not much more distance. Walk off to NW and join path on north side of Allt a' Chruinn down to village of Alut a'chruin. You then have the problem of returning to transport 8 miles back along Glen Shiel. Good luck!

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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