Sgùrr Fhuaran Explained

Sgùrr Fhuaran
Elevation M:1067
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:663
Parent Peak:A' Chralaig
Listing:Munro, Marilyn
Translation:Obscure; peak of wells/fountains, Odhran's peak or wolf's peak
Language:Gaelic
Pronunciation:in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic s̪kuːrˠ ˈuəɾən/
Location:Kintail, Scotland
Range:Northwest Highlands
Grid Ref Uk:NG978166
Topo:OS Landranger 33, OS Explorers 414

Sgùrr Fhuaran is a Scottish mountain that is situated on the northern side of Glen Shiel, east south east of Kyle of Lochalsh.

Overview

The mountain reaches a height of and qualifies as a Munro and a Marilyn, it is the highest point for a significant distance, having a sizeable topographic prominence of and gives extensive views from its summit.

The meaning of the mountain’s name is obscure.[2] Sgùrr Fhuaran may mean "Peak of wells or springs"[3] [4] [5] and many streams issue from the mountains slopes. Other possible meanings proposed are that the proper name is Sgùrr Urain, the Peak of Odhran, named after a disciple of Columba,[6] or that the second part of the name derives from "odhran-choin", here meaning "wolf".[7] The mountain is referred to in the war cry or heraldic slogan "Sgùrr Uaran" of Clan Macrae, which occupied lands in the Kintail area.[8]

Geography

Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgùrr Fhuaran is one of three mountains that make up the Five Sisters of Kintail (the other two being Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe]] and Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Sgùrr na Càrnach]]) and when seen from Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Màm Ratagan above Loch Duich, the Five Sisters are one of the best known views in the Western Highlands of Scotland. The legend of the Five Sisters of Kintail tells the story of seven sisters, daughters of a local farmer, two of whom married visiting brothers who said they would send their five other brothers for the remaining five sisters to wed. However, no one returned and the five remaining sisters agreed for a local wizard to transform them into peaks in order to preserve their beauty while they waited.[9]

Sgùrr Fhuaran is a distinctive peak with steep slopes which drop away to Glen Shiel on its western flank at an angle of over 30 degrees giving the mountain a feeling of great height. It has four main ridges, the best known of these is the WNW ridge which is conspicuous in views from Glen Shiel, it drops away precipitously from the summit to descend in just over to the River Shiel in the valley. The southern ridge connects to the adjoining Munro of Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgùrr na Càrnach, which lies away.

The eastern ridge which is a narrow knife edge in places gives a dramatic ascent route from Glenlicht House at the head of the remote Gleann Lichd. Between the southern and eastern ridges lies the impressive Coire Domhain to which the mountain drops almost vertically. The northern ridge goes to the Munro “top” of Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Sgùrr na Saighead (Peak of the Arrows) which with a height of lies away from the main summit. It is one of the Five Sisters and regarded by many as the finest, being narrow and exposed.[10] This northern ridge continues for a further to reach sea level at the shores of Loch Duich.

Ascents

The direct ascent of Sgùrr Fhuaran starts at sea level at the foot of Glen Shiel (grid reference): before the A87 crosses the Shiel bridge, a grass path on the north side of the river and loch Shiel leads to the remains of a footbridge and an unrelenting steep climb up the WNW ridge. A more interesting variation takes in Sgùrr na Saighead on the way and then follows the north ridge to the main summit. The full traverse of the Five Sisters ridge is rated by mountain writers as among the best walks in Scotland,[11] the only problem with which lies with transport between the starting and finishing points of the walk, 8km (05miles) apart. The best solution to this is to start at Morvich in Strath Croe and walk up Gleann Lichd to its head, before ascending to walk the ridge south to north, finishing at the shores of Loch Duich near the day's starting point.[12]

References

57.1964°N -5.3462°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: walkhighlands Sgurr Fhuaran . . 2014 . walkhighlands.co.uk . 9 January 2014.
  2. "The Munros" (page 175) says mountains name is obscure.
  3. Book: Scottish Mountaineering Club. The Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal. 1905. Scottish Mountaineering Club.. 266.
  4. Book: Dan Bailey. Great Mountain Days in Scotland: 50 classic hillwalking challenges. 31 January 2014. Cicerone Press. 978-1-84965-500-2. 110.
  5. Encyclopedia: https://web.archive.org/web/20200424034552/https://www2.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/faclair/sbg/lorg.php?faclair=sbg&seorsa=Gaidhlig&facal=fuaran&tairg=Lorg . fuaran . An Stòr-dàta Briathrachais Gàidhlig . 24 April 2020.
  6. "The Magic of the Munros" (page 134) gives translation as Peak of Odhran.
  7. Book: Peter Drummond. Donald William Stewart. Scottish Hill and Mountain Names: The Origin and Meaning of the Names of Scotland's Hills and Mountains. 1 January 1991. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. 978-0-907521-30-3. 58.
  8. http://www.clan-macrae.org.uk/scotland/history.cfm?ID=40 SGURR UARAN
  9. "100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains" Page 104 Gives details of legend.
  10. "The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains" Page 162 "Sgùrr na Saighead ... In many ways the finest of the group".
  11. http://kintail.walkhighlands.co.uk/k2_6.shtml walkhighlands.co.uk
  12. "100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains" Page 104 Gives details of circuit from Strath Croe.