Sgairneach Mhòr

Infobox Mountain
Name = Sgairneach Mhòr
Photo = Sgairneach_Mhor_from_Sow_of_Atholl.jpg
Caption = Sgairneach Mhòr seen from The Sow of Atholl, 3 km to the east.
Elevation = 991 m (3251 ft)
Location = Perth and Kinross SCO
Range = Grampian Mountains
Prominence = 179 m
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 42, OS "Explorer" 394
First ascent =
Easiest route =
Grid_ref_UK = NN598731
Listing = Munro, Marilyn
Translation = Big Rocky Hillside
Language =Gaelic
Pronunciation = ˈs̪kaːrˠɲəx voːɾ

Sgairneach Mhòr is a Scottish mountain which lies in a group of seven Munros near the summit of the Pass of Drumochter and are known as the Drumochter mountains or informerly as the “A9 Munros”."Hamish’s Mountain Walk", Hamish Brown, ISBN 1 898573 08 5 Page 155 Calls the group of hill; “The A9 Munros“.] The mountain is situated 13 km SSW of Dalwhinnie and four km east of the large Loch Ericht.

Overview

Sgairneach Mhòr lies to the west of the A9 road in area of high ground which was historically called the Druim Uachdair (the ridge of the upper ground), it reaches a height of 991 metres (3251 feet), making it the 155th highest Munro [http://www.scottishsport.co.uk/walking/munrolist3.htm www.scottishsport.co.uk.] Gives a list of Munros in height order.] it also qualifies as a Marilyn, it is well seen from the Pass of Drumochter showing off its impressive north facing corrie Coire Creagach which holds snow well into the spring. This notable rocky corrie gives the mountain its name which translates from the Gaelic as “Big Rocky Hillside” and this underlines the fact that Sgairneach Mhòr is the only hill in the group with any significant stony areas on its surface and makes it the most visually striking of the Drumochter hills."The Magic of the Munros", Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0 7153 2168 4 Page 76 Gives meaning of Gaelic translation of name and meaning.] "The Munros, Scotland’s Highest Mountains", Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1 84204 082 0 Page 94 Gives mountain description and topography.]

Geography

Sgairneach Mhòr has extensive southern slopes which include the subsidiary tops of Màm Bàn (919 metres) and Meallan Buidhe (879 metres) and descend to the glen of the Allt Shallainn which is the main tributary of Loch Garry. Two distinct ridges go north and east from the summit enclosing Coire Creagach which is rocky but not overly steep giving a sporting scramble to the summit. The summit of the mountain is a SW-NE orientated plateau with the highest point never in doubt, standing at the NE end close to the edge of Coire Creagach and being marked by an OS trig point surrounded by a low stone built wind shelter. The summit of the mountain was given as 500 metres SW of the present position in the original Munro Tables of 1891 but this must have been a map reading error as this point (marked by a cairn) measures only 963 metres in altitude almost 30 metres lower than the true summit. [http://www.biber.fsnet.co.uk/downloads.html Database of British Hills.] Gives details on former 1891 summit.]

The eastern ridge connects to the adjacent Corbett of The Sow of Atholl, and is narrow near the summit as it goes round the rim of Coire Creagach before broadening as it drops in easy angled slopes to a col with a height of approximately 650 metres. This eastern ridge is one of the main routes of ascent. The NE ridge is another possible route of ascent from upper Coire Dhomhain although its slopes are steep and rough in places. The hills western flank consist of broad slopes which contour around the head of Coire Domhain and descend to a col which links to the adjacent Munro of Beinn Udlamain. All drainage from the mountain goes south via the rivers Garry and Tummel to join the drainage basin of the River Tay and reaching the east coast at the Firth of Tay."The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Vol 1", Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0 906371 30 9 Page 114 Gives mountain topography and some route information.]

Ascents and view

The direct ascent of Sgairneach Mhòr is not a difficult walk as the starting point is at the summit of the Drumochter Pass on the A9 road and has a starting altitude of 462 metres. The walk crosses the railway and ascends Coire Dhomhain on a good track on the north bank of the Allt Coire Dhomhain. After approximately two km the track is left and the burn is crossed (no bridge) to its southern bank. It is then a walk south through pathless heather to reach the eastern ridge which is followed to the summit. If the burn is in spate then an alternative is to walk higher up into Coire Dhomhain and then ascend by the steeper northern ridge.

The ascent of Sgairneach Mhòr can be combined with any of the other three hills which stand around the glen of the Allt Coire Dhomhain. The SMCs Munro handbook recommends climbing it with Beinn Udlamain, however the high starting altitude at Drumochter Pass means a complete traverse around the valley including the hills of The Sow of Atholl, Sgairneach Mhòr, Beinn Udlamain and A' Mharconaich is not an over strenuous day. The highlight of the view from the summit is to the west where there is an excellent view of the Ben Alder group of mountains."The Munros (SMC Guide)", Donald Bennett (editor) et al, ISBN 0 907521 13 4 Page 90 Gives mountain description and routes.]

References