Sgurr an Airgid from Morvich

Clachan Duich graveyard

The A87 travels from Invergarry in the Great Glen, north west onto Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye. As it descends through Glen Shiel and meets with the head of Loch Duich, the road turns and Sgurr an Airgid is in full view directly ahead.

The road crosses an inlet via a causeway at the western end of Strath Croe, at the northern side of which is junction with a narrow road marked to Morvich. Just beyond the junction is the Clachan Duich burial ground, above which a war memorial looks over.

The route up Sgurr an Airgid begins from here where there is ample parking on rough ground by the roadside.

On the path up Sgurr an Airgid by the gate at 300m

From Clachan Duich, head through a gate by the northern side of the road into birch woodland. A rough and rather soggy track leads a way through the woodland, turns north-east and begins climbing uphill.

After a twist and turn, the track becomes somewhat drier as it settles into a gradual ascent on grass-covered hillside. As you climb, look back occasionally as the developing view over Loch Duich and Sgurr Mhic Bharraich to Beinn Sgritheall and Knoydart is stunning.

Higher up, just before reaching a deer-fence , the track ends and a rough path takes over. Through the fence, follow the path as it climbs through heather up to a height of just over 500m .

The path does climb higher aiming northwards and away from Sgurr an Airgid, so at this point, make a direct line up initially up a short steep section, then on more level ground through heather and grass for Mam na Dubharaiche, the bealach between Sgurr an Airgid and Beinn Buidhe to the east.

At the bealach, a worn boot-made trod is picked up and followed westwards as it keeps to the right (north) of Sgurr an Airgid's bouldery eastern shoulder. Higher up, the ground steepens a bit before levelling out on the approach to the summit.

On Sgurr an Airgid's summit looking to Skye

On Sgurr an Airgid's summit looking to Skye

Descending back to Clachan Duich

On Sgurr an Airgid's summit, about-turn and re-trace your steps back to Clachan Duich.

The first time I headed up Sgurr an Airgid, I headed directly up the southern face of the hill. This would make for a quick steep descent - it is grass-covered most of the way though a bit of route twisting and turning will be needed to avoid boulders. Lower down, the deer-fence will need crossed as there isn't a gate before a final pleasant hike returns to the track just above the gate by Clachan Duich.