Scotland
Carn Sgulain
920M
3019FT
About Carn Sgulain
Located deep in the Monadh Liath plateau above Newtonmore, this Munro is defined by its vast, rolling moorland and peat hags. While often overshadowed by its more rugged neighbours, it offers a true sense of Highland isolation and a summit view reaching across the Spey Valley toward the Cairngorm giants.
Key Statistics
Rank
23rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
71.6m
Nearest Town
Newtonmore
Geology
You are walking over the Loch Laggan Psammite, a tough, sandstone-like rock filled with tiny, glittering flakes of mica.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH683058
Latitude
57.1242°N
Longitude
4.1770°W
Did You Know?
- •Its name translates from the Gaelic Càrn Sgulain as 'Cairn of the Small Basket'. This is thought to refer to the wicker baskets, or sgulain, once used by locals for carrying peat or stones in the surrounding glens.
- •The summit is most frequently reached as the middle peak of a long, high-level circuit from Glen Banchor, usually bagged alongside A' Chailleach to the east and Càrn Dearg to the west.
- •The terrain connecting this summit to its neighbours is a sprawling expanse of peat hags and mossy hummocks; in poor visibility, it is considered one of the most challenging navigational areas in the Monadh Liath.
- •Looking east from the cairn, the view is dominated by the scale of the Cairngorm plateau, specifically the massive breach of the Lairig Ghru flanked by the peaks of Braeriach and Cairn Gorm.
- •Standing at 920.3 metres, the hill exceeds the Munro height requirement by less than six metres, making it a peak that many walkers appreciate more for the 'tick' than the terrain.