Walk: Sgor Gaoith – living life on the edge

📌 Glen Feshie, Highland
★★★★

Sgòr Gaoith has one of the most dramatically-located summits in the Cairngorms, if not all of Scotland. Perched precipitously above cliffs plunging over 600 vertical metres to Loch Eanaich, the edge of the crags also offers awe-inspiring views of Braeriach’s western side, strewn with perfectly sculpted coires. Fortunately the ascent from Glen Feshie traverses much friendlier slopes: the sudden contrast as you arrive abruptly at the cliff edge will take your breath away. Returning over Geal-charn (formerly also a Munro) reveals excellent views north over Strathspey and Glenmore Forest Park, with the Monadhliath Mountains beyond.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at track junction on minor road along the east side of Glen Feshie

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 853012

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.087774,-3.895013

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Space at track junction (or a little way along track) – do not block access

📝 Key info

▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 910 m | ⌛ 5.5-6.5 hr

Features: △ Sgòr Gaoith (1118 m, Munro); △ Meall Buidhe (976 m); △ Geal-charn (920 m)

⬤ Tough | Excellent track and path most of the way to the summit, gradually steepening and eventually fading short of the summit. Mostly pathless return over boulders and heather before an old stalker’s path is joined, leading back to the outward route.

➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit: start – cross Allt Coire na Cloiche at 🧭 NH 875007 – cross Allt a’ Chrom-alltain at 🧭 NN 883993 – Sgòr Gaoith (approach from southwest then south side) – Meall Buidhe – Geal-charn – 670m spot height to north-west – follow path south-west to rejoin outward route

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Ravens circling the crags of Sgòr Gaoith.

Weather: Shorts weather – warm and sunny with just a gentle breeze at the very top.

August 2012