Scotland
Sgurr an Fheadain
689M
2261FT
About Sgurr an Fheadain
Rising sharply above the head of Glen Brittle, this jagged gabbro peak is one of the Cuillin’s most striking outliers. Renowned for the deep vertical cleft of Waterpipe Gully slicing through its northern face, it offers a rugged, rocky ascent with commanding views across the Fairy Pools toward the main ridge peaks.
Key Statistics
Rank
72nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
40.6m
Nearest Town
Glen Brittle
Geology
You are climbing over dark, hardened magma and shattered volcanic fragments, the rugged remnants of a massive ancient volcano’s core.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NG452245
Latitude
57.2402°N
Longitude
6.2238°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Scottish Gaelic for 'Peak of the Pipe' or 'Peak of the Chanter.' This refers to the massive vertical fissure of Waterpipe Gully, which bisects the northern face and resembles a pipe or narrow channel.
- •The hill is famous among climbers and scramblers for Waterpipe Gully, a prominent 450-metre feature that provides one of the longest continuous scrambles in the UK, leading directly toward the summit ridge.
- •Because it sits detached from the main Cuillin ridge, the summit offers a superior perspective of the 'Great Prow' of Sgurr nan Gillean and the dark, serrated profile of the Black Cuillin that ridge-climbers often miss while they are on it.
- •Despite its modest height compared to the nearby Munros, its position directly above the popular Fairy Pools ensures it is one of the most photographed peaks on the Isle of Skye.
- •The peak offers a front-row seat to the site of the Battle of Coire na Creiche at its foot, which was the last clan battle between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds in 1601.