Sgùrr na Cìche

Sgùrr na Cìche, at 1,040 metres, is one of the most shapely mountains in the Highlands, seen as a fine cone from most directions, set in remote, wild country on the edge of Knoydart with a wonderful view down the length of Loch Nevis.

The route starts from the car park at the end of Loch Arkaig, following the long single-track road itself an experience in its own right. From here, the walk continues along Glen Dessarry, following a path beside the Allt a' Ghiubhais through boggy, sometimes overgrown forestry before emerging onto open ground. The route climbs steadily, zig-zagging along contours before reaching a gully that switches direction to climb steeply up to Feadan na Cìche — "the whistle of the breast," a bealach known for the wind that tears through it, sitting between Sgùrr na Cìche and neighbouring Garbh Chioch Mhòr. From here, a path winds left before cutting back in zigzags towards the summit, with much rock but no serious difficulty — the ascent looks formidable from below but proves more straightforward in practice.

The summit, marked by the remains of a trig point and a small cairn, offers a wonderful view down Loch Nevis and across to Knoydart, Skye, and, on the clearest days, Rùm and Eigg — Garbh Chioch Mhòr, Gulvain, and even Ben Nevis are visible to the east.

Most walkers combine Sgùrr na Cìche with Garbh Chioch Mhòr and Sgùrr nan Coireachan in the classic "Silent Ridge" traverse of all three Munros, returning to Feadan na Cìche and climbing the connecting wall-lined ridge south.

The full three-Munro traverse from Loch Arkaig is around 24-26 kilometres with roughly 1,700 metres of ascent, typically ten to twelve hours — genuinely epic given the length of the initial glen approach alone.

The gully ascent to the bealach involves some minor scrambling and demands care, particularly in wet conditions, and the sheer length of the approach and return through Glen Dessarry should not be underestimated — full navigation and considerable stamina are essential for this remote expedition.

Parking at Loch Arkaig is free but limited; there is no public transport to the start, and the road itself is narrow and can be rough going by car.