Walk: Sgurr nan Airgid – dowager of Loch Duich

📌 Kintail, Highland
★★★★

Standing proudly apart from the groups of Munros along Glen Shiel, Sgùrr nan Airgid (Silver Peak) is the independent old lady of the Kintail area – where many of the other hills are grouped together along airy ridges. Reaching her Corbett summit is relatively straightforward for this rough region, thanks to a decent path for the entirety of the ascent, and the views are absolutely worth the effort, with the full length of tranquil Loch Duich visible. Loch Alsh and the Skye Bridge join the party if you make a pathless detour to the western top, where we were lucky enough to share the vista with scores of red deer. Strong walkers should be able to accomplish this route in half a day: rather handy when (as on our visit) the weather is forecast to deteriorate later on.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on minor road just east of A87 junction, 2 mi north of Shiel Bridge

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 946212

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.235367,-5.404741

🚌 Bus stops on A87 at Inverinate school (0.5 mi)

🚗 Layby

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 930 m | ⌛ 4.5-5 hr

Features: ⛪ St Dubhthach’s Church ★★; △ Sgùrr nan Airgid (841 m, Corbett)

⬤ Tough | Mostly clear track then path to Sgùrr nan Airgid, sustained ascent; boggy sections mainly around Màm na Dubharaiche. Detour to Sgùrr na Seamraig is mostly pathless.

➡️ Out-and-back walk: start & St Dubhthach’s Church – Màm na Dubharaiche – Sgùrr nan Airgid – Sgùrr na Seamraig – skirt main summit – return to Màm na Dubharaiche – start by outward route

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Dozens of red deer below Sgùrr na Seamraig; wild goats by the A87 on the way to the start.

Weather: Warm and sunny start but cloud building, base just above summit level.

August 2019