Sgurr nan Each
Encyclopedia
Sgurr nan Each is a Scottish
mountain situated in the group of hills known as the Fannichs. It is 27 kilometres (16.8 mi) south of Ullapool
in the Ross and Cromarty
district of the Highland
council area.
s in the group. It overlooks Loch Fannich
and reaches a height of 923 metres (3,028.2 ft) making it the 266th highest Munro. Its name originates from the Gaelic
language and translates as “Peak of the Horses”.
, which stands 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north. The two mountains are joined by a ridge that is sharp in places and provides some minor scrambling and has a low point of 815 metres (2,673.9 ft). Sgurr nan Each falls away abruptly on its eastern flanks with crags in places to the valley of the Allt a’ Choire Mhòir. To the west, the slopes are grassy and moderate down to the 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) contour before falling abruptly to the head of Loch Fannich. To the south, the ridge continues over the subsidiary top of Sgurr a’ Chadha Dheirg (866 metres or 2,841.2 ft) before dropping down to the shores of Loch Fannich.
All drainage from the mountain goes south to Loch Fannich to find its way to the Cromarty Firth
via the rivers Grudie and Conon. The mountain is made up of the metamorphic rock schist
with infusions of mica
and quartz
. The mountain lies within the Fannich Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest
and Special Area of Conservation
because of its profusion of bogs, marshes, and water-fringed vegetation, although the area is primarily managed as a deer forest, and herds can be regularly seen in the corries and on the lower slopes of the mountain.
and Sgurr nan Clach Geala first before continuing south along the ridge to the top of Sgurr nan Each. It is also possible to climb the highest peak of the Fannichs, Sgurr Mòr
, on this walk by an out and back trip from the col between the first two Munros.
An approach from the south is possible but a mountain bike is required for the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) ride to the foot of the south ridge. The ride uses the hydro road from the locked gates at Grudie on the A835 at grid reference . The road is tarmac as far as the Fannich dam then becomes a track which passes Fannich Lodge to reach the south ridge from where the mountain can be climbed. A number of years ago it was possible to obtain a key for the locked gate at Grudie and drive a car as far as the dam. Several mountain guide writers recommend this southern approach for a long day in the hills which takes in seven of the Fannich Munros. There was formerly a bothy known as the “Nest of Fannich” situated on Sgurr nan Each’s lower south west slopes by the loch which a great help when climbing mountains in this area, the bothy burned down several years ago. The highlight of the view from the top of Sgurr nan Each is the western panorama which takes in the Fisherfield Forest
, Slioch
and the Torridon Hills
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mountain situated in the group of hills known as the Fannichs. It is 27 kilometres (16.8 mi) south of Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
in the Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
district of the Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
council area.
Overview
Sgurr nan Each is not an easy mountain to view from any main road, being set in the interior of the Fannichs with lines of sight often blocked by the other nine MunroMunro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s in the group. It overlooks Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich
Loch Fannich is a remote loch in Ross-shire, in the Scottish highlands. The loch is located 12 miles west of Strathpeffer.Loch Fannich was dammed and its water level raised as part of the Conon Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, built by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board between 1946 and 1961...
and reaches a height of 923 metres (3,028.2 ft) making it the 266th highest Munro. Its name originates from the Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
language and translates as “Peak of the Horses”.
Geography
Sgurr nan Each stands on a spur that goes south off the main Fannichs ridge. This ridge, which is scalloped and steep on its eastern side, also contains the adjoining and higher Munro of Sgurr nan Clach GealaSgurr nan Clach Geala
Sgurr 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...
, which stands 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the north. The two mountains are joined by a ridge that is sharp in places and provides some minor scrambling and has a low point of 815 metres (2,673.9 ft). Sgurr nan Each falls away abruptly on its eastern flanks with crags in places to the valley of the Allt a’ Choire Mhòir. To the west, the slopes are grassy and moderate down to the 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) contour before falling abruptly to the head of Loch Fannich. To the south, the ridge continues over the subsidiary top of Sgurr a’ Chadha Dheirg (866 metres or 2,841.2 ft) before dropping down to the shores of Loch Fannich.
All drainage from the mountain goes south to Loch Fannich to find its way to the Cromarty Firth
Cromarty Firth
The Cromarty Firth of Cromarty') is an arm of the North Sea in Scotland. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth, and to the south the Beauly Firth....
via the rivers Grudie and Conon. The mountain is made up of the metamorphic rock schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
with infusions of mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
and quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
. The mountain lies within the Fannich Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
and Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
because of its profusion of bogs, marshes, and water-fringed vegetation, although the area is primarily managed as a deer forest, and herds can be regularly seen in the corries and on the lower slopes of the mountain.
Ascents
Sgurr nan Each is one the minor peaks of the Fannichs, therefore it is invariably climbed in junction with other hills of the group. The most popular ascent is from the north, starting at a lay by on the A832 road at grid reference . This route climbs the Munros of Meall a' ChrasgaidhMeall a' Chrasgaidh
Meall a' Chrasgaidh is a Scottish mountain located in the Fannich group of mountains, 21 kilometres south-southeast of Ullapool.- Overview :The mountain is centrally located within the Fannichs and is one of the most accessible of the group with the A832 and A835 roads running just to the north...
and Sgurr nan Clach Geala first before continuing south along the ridge to the top of Sgurr nan Each. It is also possible to climb the highest peak of the Fannichs, Sgurr Mòr
Sgurr Mòr (Fannichs)
Sgurr Mòr is the highest of the nine Munros in the mountain range known as the Fannichs in northern Scotland. This range is located between Loch Fannich and the A835 Ullapool road — a remote area with few habitations, but these Munros, which are usually climbed in groups or occasionally in a single...
, on this walk by an out and back trip from the col between the first two Munros.
An approach from the south is possible but a mountain bike is required for the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) ride to the foot of the south ridge. The ride uses the hydro road from the locked gates at Grudie on the A835 at grid reference . The road is tarmac as far as the Fannich dam then becomes a track which passes Fannich Lodge to reach the south ridge from where the mountain can be climbed. A number of years ago it was possible to obtain a key for the locked gate at Grudie and drive a car as far as the dam. Several mountain guide writers recommend this southern approach for a long day in the hills which takes in seven of the Fannich Munros. There was formerly a bothy known as the “Nest of Fannich” situated on Sgurr nan Each’s lower south west slopes by the loch which a great help when climbing mountains in this area, the bothy burned down several years ago. The highlight of the view from the top of Sgurr nan Each is the western panorama which takes in the Fisherfield Forest
Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest
The Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest covers a large mountainous area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, lying between Loch Maree and Little Loch Broom. It is sometimes nicknamed The Great Wilderness, as the area is entirely devoid of permanent settlements.Although termed a...
, Slioch
Slioch
Slioch is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands situated in Wester Ross, eight kilometres north of the village of Kinlochewe. Slioch reaches a height of 981 metres and towers above the south east end of Loch Maree to give one of the best known and most photographed sights in the Highlands...
and the Torridon Hills
Torridon Hills
The Torridon Hills surround Torridon village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The name is usually applied to the mountains to the north of Glen Torridon...
.