Photographs, map and route description of the Munro Beinn Sgulaird between Glen Creran and Glen Etive

Beinn Sgulaird ( 3074ft, 937m )

from Loch Creran

Loch Creran

from Beinn Sgulaird

Beinn Sgulaird on ascent of Beinn Trilleachan in Glen Etive

Beinn Sgulaird ( 3074ft, 937m )

on ascent of Beinn Trilleachan ( 2752ft, 839m )

Beinn Sgulaird from summit of Beinn Trilleachan in Glen Etive

Beinn Sgulaird

from summit of Beinn Trilleachan ( 2752ft, 839m )

Beinn Sgulaird

from summit of Beinn Trilleachan

Beinn Sgulaird

from the west

Rocky summit ridge of Beinn Sgulaird

Beinn Sgulaird

from Creach Bheinn

Beinn Sgulaird

Loch Creran

Highland Cattle at Loch Creran

Map of Beinn Sgulaird

Route Map for Beinn Sgulaird

BEINN SGULAIRD - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Glen Creran, Argyll
Map: US Landranger 50
Distance: 9 miles ( 14.5km )
Time: 5-6 hours
Terrain: tracks and paths

Beinn Sgulaird lies at the south-western corner of an extensive area of granite stretching from the western ﬂanks of Ben Alder to Ben Cruachan. Rannoch Moor once covered by an ice sheet, dominates the northern half, in contrast, the southern section is marked by high.craggy and complex peaks such as Starav, Albannaich and Cruachan, scoured from the bedrock as the glaciers radiating from the ice sheet ploughed towards the sea. Slightly west of the main Etive glacial trench, Beinn Sgulaird is neither as high nor as complex as its cousins, hut it is rough and rocky and offers an excellent single-hill expedition from the head of Loch Creran.
Follow the road up Glen Creran to the head of the loch past Druimavuic to park at a wide layby on the right, just beyond the second entrance to the house. Walk back towards this entrance, but turn leﬁ before it on to a rough track with electricity poles. The track leads through woods behind the house to open hillside where it swings left then back right to cross the lower part of the western ridge of point 863m.
Leave the track here for a cairned path and follow it directly up the ridge. Climb up and south round point 488m, then north skirting a small band of crags above the col. Regain the path at the col’s high point and continue up the ridge to the summit of point 863m.
From here the going is much rockier as you traverse the rim of the corrie to gain the top of Meall Garbh ( 848m ).
Further rocky ground gains the south ridge, which leads in a series of granite slabs and steps to the large summit cairn ( 937m ).
You can retrace your steps or make a contouring descent by the pathless west face, the latter being recommended only in good visibility as some of the ground is complex and rocky.
Continue north on the path towards a rocky point ( 909m ), then drop west off the crest of the ridge into the grassy gully leading west from the col between the two summits. Follow this until you can turn south-west, aiming for the head of the loch, and traverse mostly glassy slopes between the bands of crags and scree. Once clear of the rocks follow grassy, birch-scattered slopes towards a walled sheepfold, gained by crossing the Allt Coire na Capull. Cross the smaller Allt Bliochdaig beyond, from where animal paths and ATV tracks lead west to a track leading to the access road south of Taraphocain. Follow this west beside the River Ure to join the main road some 700m north of the parking spot.