Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan |
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Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan from Mam Sodhail, 5 km to the NE. The Kintail hills are in the background
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,151 m (3,776 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 435 m |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Peak of the Quarters |
| Language of name | from Gaelic Sgùrr nan Ceathramhan |
| Geography | |
| Location | Glen Affric, Scotland |
| Parent range | Northwest Highlands |
| OS grid | NH056228 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 25, 33 |
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan is a tall mountain in Scotland. It stands in a wild, quiet area between two glens, Glen Affric and Glen Elchaig. This mountain is about 30 kilometers east of Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highland region.
At 1151 meters (3776 feet) high, it's the third tallest mountain north of the Great Glen. Only Carn Eighe and Mam Sodhail are higher. Many people think it's one of the most amazing hills in the whole United Kingdom. Unlike other nearby mountains, Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan has wide slopes and long, thin ridges. These ridges spread out from its main top like spokes on a wheel.
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What is Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan Like?
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan is known as one of the most remote Munros. A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) high. It's a big challenge for anyone who loves to hike. One expert, E.J. Yeaman, even called it the fourth hardest Scottish Munro to climb. This is because it's so far away and so high up.
How Big is This Mountain?
This mountain is huge, covering about 62 square kilometers (24 square miles). It's many kilometers from the closest public road. It looks a bit like a tent and has many long ridges that stretch down into the valleys below.
What are the Other Peaks?
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan has several smaller peaks, sometimes called "tops."
- The Western Top is 1143 meters high.
- Three tops are on the northern ridge:
- Stuc Bheag (1075 meters)
- Stuc Mòr (1041 meters)
- Stob Fraoch Choire (918 meters)
- Another top, Stob Coire na Cloiche, is on the eastern ridge and is 915 meters high.
Over the years, some peaks that were once considered "tops" of Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan have been removed from the official list. This mountain also has a separate Munro nearby called Mullach na Dheiragain.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan can be tricky to say if you don't speak Gaelic. Some hikers jokingly call it "Chrysanthemum"! The name actually means "Peak of the Quarters." This refers to how the mountain's ridges divide a large amount of land into different sections.
What About the Summit?
The very top of Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan has two peaks. They are connected by a curved ridge. The western peak is about 500 meters away from the highest point and is 1143 meters tall. To walk between these two peaks, you might need to do a little bit of scrambling, which means using your hands to help you climb over rocks.
Climbing Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan
Climbing Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan is a big adventure. It's best to do it during the long daylight hours of summer.
Where to Start Your Hike?
The shortest way to start your climb is from the Alltbeithe youth hostel. This hostel is in upper Glen Affric, about 3.5 kilometers south of the mountain's summit. However, just getting to the hostel is a long journey itself! You might have to walk a long way from Loch Cluanie to the south or from the end of the road in Glen Affric.
Other ways to start include:
- From Iron Lodge in Glen Elchaig, but you'll need a bicycle to ride up the estate road.
- From the car park in Strath Croe.
The Path to the Top
From the Alltbeithe hostel, you can follow a path used by deer stalkers. This path goes north to the dip between Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan and a smaller Munro called An Socach. You can easily climb An Socach on your way to Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan's summit without much extra effort.
What Can You See From the Top?
The view from the summit is amazing! You'll see lots of wild, mountainous country all around you. If you have binoculars, you might even be able to see Inverness and the Kessock Bridge. These places are over 70 kilometers away to the east!
Images for kids
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Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan from Mam Sodhail, 5 km to the NE. The Kintail hills are in the background
