Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean is a Scottish mountain situated 13 kilometres southwest of the village of Achnasheen on the southern side of Glen Carron within the Glencarron and Glenuig Forest in the Ross and Cromarty district of the Highland council area.

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean
Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean seen from Sgùrr Choinnich, 3.5 km to the south.
Highest point
Elevation	913.4 m (2,997 ft)
Prominence	181 m[1]
Listing	Corbett, Marilyn
Coordinates	57.4822°N 5.1924°W / 57.4822; -5.1924
Naming
English translation	Peak of the Merchants or Pedlars
Language of name	Gaelic
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [ˈs̪kuːrˠ nəŋʲ ˈkʰʲan̪ˠɪçən]
Geography
Location	Wester Ross, Scotland
Parent range	Northwest Highlands
OS grid	NH087480
Topo map	OS Landranger 25, OS Explorer 429

Looking east from the summit down Gleann Fhiodhaig.

Overview

The mountain's name translates from the Gaelic as Peak of the Merchants or Pedlars. The name may be associated with a main routeway between east and west Scotland passing just to the north,^[2] Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean being a significant landmark for traders and travellers.^[3]

Initially classed as a Corbett, Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean was reclassified as a Munro in 1981 after a height of 915 m, obtained by aerial photogrammetry for the metric revision, appeared on the Ordnance Survey map.^[4] In 2009, a survey by The Munro Society obtained an accurate height of 913.43 metres, reverting the mountain's status to Corbett.^[5]

Geography

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean is a much more interesting hill than the adjoining Munro of Moruisg, its western flank is very steep and craggy as it falls to the valley of the Allt a’ Chonais and contains two deep and impressive gullies. The fine corrie of Coire Toll nam Bian stands on the north eastern side of the mountain while another lesser corrie, Coire an Tuill Bhàn, lies just east of the summit and descends south east to the valley near Glenuig Lodge. The highest point of the mountain lies on a plateau with a number of cairns with the most southerly one being the highest point. The mountain stands on the main Scottish east-west watershed with most of the drainage going to Glen Carron and the sea at the west coast. However the eastern slopes form the head waters of the River Meig which takes water to the Cromarty Firth on the east coast of Scotland.

Ascents

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean is usually ascended in conjunction with the neighbouring Munro of Moruisg from a point just west of Loch Sgamhain on the A890 at grid reference NH079520, it is possible to climb either of the hills first.^[6] An alternative route which gives a direct ascent of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean starts at the small hamlet of Craig (at grid reference NH040493) and follows the valley of the Allt a' Chonais for five kilometres until a stalkers path leaves the valley and climbs steeply up the mountains southern slopes to reach the summit. The continuation to Moruisg goes north east and then north along the rim of the Coire Toll nam Bian.^[7]

References

• The Munros, Donald Bennett et al.: Scottish Mountaineering Trust: ISBN 0-907521-13-4
• The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-906371-30-9
• Hamish’s Mountain Walk, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5
• The Magic of the Munros, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
• The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-84204-082-0

Footnotes

1. Database of British and Irish Hills. Retrieved 20 Jan 2012.
2. Roy's Map circa 1750
3. "The Magic of the Munros" Page 152 Gives translation and possible meaning.
4. The Munros and Tops 1891-1997. Confirms promotion from Corbett to Munro in 1981.
5. The Munro Society - Height Changes Archived 2009-09-14 at the Wayback Machine
6. "The Munros" Page 188 Gives route of ascent from Loch Sgamhain.
7. "The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains" Page 176 Gives direct route from Craig.