Sgùrr nan Clach Geala

Sgùrr nan Clach Geala is a Scottish mountain situated 28 kilometres south-southeast of Ullapool in the county of Ross and Cromarty in the Highland council area. It is one of ten Munros located in the group of hills known as the Fannichs.

Sgùrr nan Clach Geala
Sgùrr nan Clach Geala seen from the cairn on Sgùrr nan Each, two km to the south.
Highest point
Elevation1,093 m (3,586 ft) [1]
Prominence228 m (748 ft)
ListingMunro, Marilyn
Naming
English translationPeak of the White Stones
Language of nameGaelic
PronunciationScottish Gaelic: [ˈs̪kuːrˠ nəŋ ˈkʰl̪ˠax ˈkʲal̪ˠə]
Geography
LocationRoss and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland
Parent rangeFannichs, Northwest Highlands
OS gridNH184715
Topo mapOS Landranger 20, OS Explorer 436
Sgùrr nan Clach Geala from Carn na Crice, two km to the NE. The rocky buttresses of the north ridge can be seen.
Looking south from the summit down the Allt a' Choire Mhoir to Loch Fannich.

Overview

With a height of 1093 metres (3586 feet) Sgùrr nan Clach Geala is the second highest of the Fannaichs behind Sgùrr Mòr and is regarded by many as the best peak of the group[2] with its fine east facing corrie and pointed buttresses. The hill is not easily seen from any public road being situated in the centre of the group some eight kilometres from the A832 road to the south. The best views are from nearby mountains with the eastern cliffs being seen to best effect from Sgùrr Mòr across Coire Mòr. The hills name translates from the Gaelic as “Peak of the White Stone”,[3] this refers to an area of light coloured quartzite rocks near the summit.

Geography

Sgùrr nan Clach Geala stands on a north-south ridge in the western part of the Fannichs along with two other Munros, Meall a' Chrasgaidh and Sgùrr nan Each. From a distance the mountain’s north ridge can look difficult to traverse with its craggy buttresses which can give mild scrambling if the edge of the corrie is followed, however there are no real difficulties and any problems can be easily by-passed. This northern ridge drops down to a col with a height of 819 metres called Am Biachdaich (The Feeding Place), named because of the col's rich pastures where deer often feed. From the col the Munros of Meall a' Chrasgaidh and Sgùrr Mòr can be climbed, a small lochan lies on the col. The southern ridge of the mountain connects to the Munro of Sgùrr nan Each, which lies just under two kilometres away across a col with a height of 815 metres.

The mountains western slopes are mostly grassy with a few rocky outcrops as they drop down to the valley of the Allt Breabaig. The mountains best geological feature are its eastern cliffs, the highest in the Fannichs which fall 400 metres to the head of Coire Mòr. These Schist cliffs have attracted winter ice climbers with 20 named routes available,[4] the best known being Skyscraper Buttress and Gamma Gully.[5] Drainage from the mountain reaches both coasts of Scotland, rainfall on the west and northern slopes go via the River Broom and Loch Broom to reach the west coast at Ullapool. Drainage from the south and east flank goes south to Loch Fannich to eventually reach the east coast at the Cromarty Firth.

Ascents and summit

The most usual route of ascent approaches from the north starting at a parking spot on the A832 at grid reference NH162760 and climbs the adjoining Munro of Meall a' Chrasgaidh before climbing Sgùrr nan Clach Geala. Most walkers will continue south from the summit to take in Sgùrr nan Each before returning to the starting point via the Allt Breabaig.[6]

The summit of the mountain has the remains of a trig point, it has been vandalised and seems to have been attacked with a sledgehammer, leaving only a quarter of the pillar remaining. The eastern cliffs fall precipitously into Coire Mòr directly from the summit. The view takes in all but one of the Fannichs and is an excellent place to study the geography of the group. There is an excellent view of An Teallach 18 kilometres away to the north west, while the valley of the Allt a‘ Choire Mhoir looks impressive to the south as it flows down to Loch Fannich.

gollark: ++remind 5d5m +>markov
gollark: +>markov 258639553357676545 2
gollark: +>markov 258639553357676545 2
gollark: +>markov 258639553357676545 2
gollark: ++remind 5d anaardvarks

References
  • The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
  • The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Diadem, 1993, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-906371-30-9
  • 100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains, Warner Books, 1992, Ralph Storer, ISBN 0-7515-0300-2
  • Hamish’s Mountain Walk, Baton Wicks, 1996, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5
  • The Munros Almanac, Neil Wilson Publishing, 1991, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-897784-01-5

Footnotes

  1. "walkhighlands Sgurr nan Clach Geala". walkhighlands.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. "The Munros" Page 206 “Sgurr nan Clach Geala may well be considered to be the finest of the Fannichs“.
  3. All guide books consulted gives translation as “Peak of the White Stones“.
  4. ukclimbing.com. Gives some details of winter climbing routes.
  5. "Hamish‘s Mountain Walk" Page 310 Also gives details of ice climbing.
  6. "The Munros" Page 206 Gives route details.

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