Sgòr an Lochain Uaine

Sgòr an Lochain Uaine, at 1,258 metres and also known as the Angel's Peak, is the fifth highest mountain in Britain, a remote summit at the heart of the Cairngorms only promoted to full Munro status in 1997, having previously been considered a minor top of neighbouring Cairn Toul.

The most popular approach starts from Glen Feshie at the Auchlean car park, following a path signed for Càrn Bàn Mòr through woodland and open heather moor above Coire Fhearnagan onto the high Cairngorm plateau. From here the route crosses remote, largely pathless moorland on a rough bearing towards the Allt Luineag, followed uphill to a col, from where a clear path climbs to the summit — a boulder-strewn dome with exceptional views across Garbh Choire, one of the finest mountain panoramas in Britain.

An alternative and more adventurous route approaches via the Lairig Ghru from Speyside or Linn of Dee, climbing the mountain's celebrated north-east ridge — an easy but spectacular scramble directly to the summit, requiring careful route-finding to locate its narrow crest, which is only two or three metres wide at the top. Most parties combine the peak with neighbouring Cairn Toul and often Braeriach as part of the classic Cairngorm 4000ers round.

The round trip from Auchlean in Glen Feshie is around 26 kilometres with roughly 1,375 metres of ascent, a serious day of nine to ten hours; the north-east ridge approach via the Lairig Ghru is comparably long and remote.

This is a genuinely committing mountain regardless of route — the approach walks are long, the terrain is largely pathless and boulder-strewn, and full navigation skills are essential given how easy it is to misjudge distances across the open plateau in poor visibility. In winter, cornices form along the summit ridge and this becomes a serious mountaineering objective.

The Auchlean car park in Glen Feshie is free (donation); there is no public transport to either starting point.