Sgor an Lochain Uaine

About Sgor an Lochain Uaine

Tucked deep within the remote high plateau of the Cairngorms, this formidable Munro sits between the giants of Braeriach and Cairn Toul. Its eastern face drops precipitously into the wild An Garbh Coire, overlooking the high-altitude lochan that gives the peak its name. It offers a truly isolated, high-mountain experience.

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Did You Know?

• •The Gaelic name translates as 'the peak of the little green loch', referring to An Lochan Uaine which sits in the floor of the Garbh Coire 300 metres below. Its more popular English name, 'The Angel’s Peak', was bestowed in the 19th century by Alexander Copland as a counterpoint to the 'Devil’s Point' at the southern end of the ridge.
• •Despite its impressive height and distinct profile, it was only officially promoted to Munro status in 1997. Prior to the revision of Sir Hugh Munro’s original tables, it was considered a subsidiary top of its neighbour, Cairn Toul.
• •The summit offers an unparalleled perspective into the depths of An Garbh Coire, one of the most remote and snow-prone hollows in Scotland. Looking north, the massive, shattered plateau of Braeriach dominates the skyline, while the dramatic trough of the Lairig Ghru pass cuts deep to the east.
• •Because of its central location in the massif, it is almost never climbed as a single objective. Most walkers reach it as part of an arduous but classic circuit starting from the Linn of Dee or Coylumbridge, usually paired with Cairn Toul and The Devil’s Point.
• •At over 1,250 metres, it is the fifth highest mountain in the UK, a fact you will be acutely aware of during the ten-mile walk back to the nearest road.