Sgor-gaoith

About trip

Walk Description

Stage 1

Take the road up the east side of Glen Feshie (signed Achlean); just before the bridge over the Allt Ruadh turn left on a track; there is a parking area about fifty metres off the road. The walk begins by following this track to the east; it passes through a plantation at first, then giving way to birch trees before the Cairngorms National Nature Reserve is reached as announced on a large boulder.

Stage 2

Just beyond here the track forks; the main branch curves to the right to descend to and cross the stream. The correct route is to take the left fork, a much improved ascending footpath. This excellent path climbs high above the steep cleft of the Allt Ruadh, clothed with magnificent mature pinewoods. As height is gained there are also fine views back over Badenoch to the rolling Munros of the Monadhliath.

Stage 3

Shortly before reaching the Allt nam Bo, the track forks off to the left but the walkers path to Sgor Gaoith continues straight ahead, descending slightly to cross the stream. The route leaves the old pinewoods behind now, but despite the removal of the fences the reduction in deer numbers has enabled regeneration to take place; there are young pines all along the path, with some beginning to grow much higher up the hillsides. Continue on the well built path, crossing the Allt Coire na Cloiche and then traversing for a long distance to reach the Allt a'Chrom Alltain.

Stage 4

Ascend beside this stream for a very short distance before crossing it and ascending southeast up the open slopes. The path disappears on the flat shoulder at around 810 metres; from here, ascend the slopes fairly directly, keeping a little to the south of east, to emerge on the flat plateau to the south of Sgor Gaoith. This plateau stretches for miles to the south, reaching out to the Munro of Mullach Clach a'Blair and then sweeping eastwards across the flat, high altitude bogs of the Moine Mhor. It is worth heading over to the eastern edge of the plateau for the views along the crags on the approach to the rocky, peaked summit of Sgor Gaoith.

Stage 5

The summit of Sgor Gaoith, a lofty 1118 metres, has a stunningly dramatic location. The cairn is perched right on the edge of the huge sweep of broken crags, where the Feshie plateau plunges precipitously down to lonely Loch Einich. Across the far side is the huge bulk of Braeriach, its flanks scooped with a whole series of corries. In winter conditions great care is needed as the edge is usually heavily corniced; in anything less than perfect visibility it would be all too easy to fall through the snow and down the cliffs.

Stage 6

Unless you've decided on a very long walk taking in Mullach Clach a'Bhlair (in which case it is better to start the walk at Achlean and use the stalkers path to reach the plateau just south of Carn Ban Mor), the best way to vary the descent is to head along the Meall Buidhe - Geal Charn ridge. Descend to the next wide bealach to the north; Sgoran Dubh Mor, which was once a Munro, could easily be included by a short detour from here. Descend to the west, crossing or skirting around a minor bump (978 metres) to ascend Meall Buidhe beyond.

Stage 7

This is a little rockier than the main plateau, with one or two short sections over boulders; the cairn is at the far end. Continue across the next bealach, skirting another small knoll, before climbing once more to Geal Charn. This was also once a Munro, at 920 metres, but like Sgoran Dubh Mor was demoted to become a top as the separation from Sgor Gaoith was too slight. From Geal Charn's summit, continue in the same direction for about three hundred metres before turning sharp left and descending southwest down the open, steep, heathery slopes. The outward path is gained near the Allt Coire na Cloiche; turn right down it and retrace the outward route through the pinewoods to return to the start.