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Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie

By Ian Tupman   

on December 19, 2020    4.67/5 (3)

Posted as a walk in – Cairngorms National Park, Europe, Scotland

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A circular route taking in Sgor Gaoith and two former Munros

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

15 kms

Ascent

880m

Time

3.5 - 4.5 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Forest car park on the road between Feshiebridge and Achlean

Difficulty

Hard Walk

Hazards

In winter, the summit edge of Sgor Gaoith is often corniced and in windy conditions or mist it should be given a wide berth.

Between June and September, the Highland midge can really spoil your day if you are not well-protected. There are various products available but Smidge seems to be effective for most people.

Weather Forecast:

MetOffice Sgor Gaoith forecast, MWIS Cairngorms forecast

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie

As a Munro, Sgor Gaoith is often done as a straight up and down from Glen Feshie but this route takes in three of the neighbouring tops and provides a more interesting walk over what is generally easy ground.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith Route Description

1 From Feshiebridge, take the minor road signposted Achlean. Pass the Cairngorm Gliding Club on your right and park in the forest car park at grid reference NN852012 (no charge)

Car park and start/finish of route

2 Leave the car park from the east side and take the good track through the forest.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie - Cairngorms
Forest track

3 Where the track swings right and descends, take the path on the left and climb steadily. Just before the Alt nam Bo ignore the path on the left, drop down to the right and cross the stream.

Forest path

4 Continue on the good path which soon breaks out of the forest. Do not drop down to cross the Allt Coire na Cloiche but leave the path and climb the steep, south-west slope of Geal Charn sticking to the broad, pathless ridge to avoid being drawn into the coire on your right.

As the gradient eases, swing east and then south-east to reach the summit shelter on Geal Charn, a former Munro which was demoted due to its proximity to Sgor Gaoith.

Continue south-east over broken ground and drop down to cross a narrow saddle before rising on the other side to the summit of Meall Buidhe at 976m.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie - Cairngorms
The route ahead from Meall Buidhe

5 Our next objective is the lowest point on the broad ridge between Sgor Gaoith and Sgòran Dubh Mor. Leave Meall Buidhe in a south-easterly direction and cross the small rise before climbing gently to the ridge. Views now open up across to the massive bulk of Braeriach with Loch Einich 500m below.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie - Cairngorms
Braeriach

6 Turn north along the narrow path over easy ground and reach the bouldery summit of Sgòran Dubh Mor at 1111m.

The gentle rise to Sgòran Dubh Mor

7 This also used to be a Munro but was removed from the list along with Geal Charn. There are expansive views across Strathspey to the Monadhliath mountains.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie - Cairngorms
Sgòran Dubh Mor summit

8 Leave the summit and retrace your steps along the ridge before continuing south towards Sgor Gaoith.

Heading across to Sgor Gaoith

9 In mist, strong wind or if there is snow on the ground, keep well to the right of the edge as you climb to the summit at 1118m. The views down into Glen Einich are spectacular and in calm, clear conditions this is a superb spot to stop for a rest and refreshments.

The head of Loch Einich from Sgor Gaoith
Geal Charn, Meall Buidhe and Sgòran Dubh Mor from Sgor Gaoith

10 Leave the summit of Sgor Gaoith in a south-south-westerly direction over open ground and after approximately 400m, turn west to descend the pathless terrain to reach a faint path. Turn right and then cross an area of stony ground to reach a large cairn which marks the descent path.

Walk up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie - Cairngorms
The descent to the area of stony ground and cairn

11 The route now follows a well-trodden path over often muddy ground and crosses the Allt à Chrom  alltain.  Continue on the path as it traverses the western slopes of Meall Tionail Cairn.  Cross the Alt Coire na Croiche and retrace your outbound steps through the forest to return to the car park.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A circular route taking in Sgor Gaoith and two former Munros

This walk includes the Munro of Sgor Gaoith

Route Start Location: Forest car park on the road between Feshiebridge and Achlean

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
15 kms 880m 3.5 - 4.5 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

None

Hazards

In winter, the summit edge of Sgor Gaoith is often corniced and in windy conditions or mist it should be given a wide berth.

Between June and September, the Highland midge can really spoil your day if you are not well-protected. There are various products available but Smidge seems to be effective for most people.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : Not applicable

Free parking at the start/finish of the route

Public Transport:

None to the start or finish of the route

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

MetOffice Sgor Gaoith forecast, MWIS Cairngorms forecast

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Ian Tupman

Ian lives In Ardrossan and being only a fifty five minutes ferry crossing to Brodick, the Isle of Arran is his ‘back yard’. He knows the mountains of the north of the island well and has walked every permutation of routes over the various summits. He is now spending more time further north exploring the Cairngorms, the far north-west and the mountains of the west of Scotland.

More Posts by Ian Tupman

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