Sgurr nan Ceannaichean

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Sgurr nan Ceannaichean

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean seen from Sgurr Choinnich, 3.5 km to the south.
Elevation 915 m (3002 ft)
Location Wester Ross, Flag of Scotland Scotland
Range Northwest Highlands
Prominence c. 183 m
Topo map OS Landranger 25, OS Explorer 429
OS grid reference NH087480
Listing Munro, Marilyn
Translation Peak of the Merchants or Pedlars (Gaelic)
Pronunciation [Skoor nan Kyaneechan]

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean is a Scottish mountain situated 13 kilometres south west of Achnasheen on the southern side of Glen Carron within the Glencarron and Glenuig Forest in the Ross and Cromarty district of the Highland area. With a height of 915 metres (3002 feet) it just scrapes into the Munro category and is commonly cited as the smallest of all the 284 hills in that classification, even though there are two other Munros measured by the Ordnance Survey at 915 metres. The mountains name translates from the Gaelic as Peak of the Merchants or Pedlars.

For many years Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was classed as a Corbett, failing to reach the esteemed 3000 foot mark and Munro status by just a few metres. However in the late 1970s, the Ordnance Survey resurveyed much of the Scottish highlands and the mountain was given the new height of 915 metres and entered the Munros list when it was revised in 1981. Promotion to Munro status made Sgurr nan Ceannaichean a much busier place, as Munro baggers climbed the mountain to complete the revised list, previously it had been mainly ignored by baggers as they climbed the neighbouring Munro of Moruisg, just 2.5 kilometres to the north east.

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean is a much more interesting hill than the adjoining 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 Bhan, 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.

Sgurr nan Ceannaichean is usually ascended in conjunction with the neighbouring Munro of Moruisg, it is possible to climb either of the hills first. The direct ascent of Sgurr 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.

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