Sgurr Dubh

Rising above the remote southern shores of Loch Monar, this rugged peak offers a sense of profound isolation far from the busy Munro circuits. Its craggy northern slopes contrast with gentler southern approaches, rewarding climbers with a commanding view across the Monar Forest toward the massive silhouettes of Lurg Mhòr and Sgùrr a' Chaorachain.

• •The name is Scottish Gaelic for 'Black Peak,' a descriptor common across the Highlands for hills that present a dark, craggy face. On this specific summit, the name reflects the weathered, dark rock of the Monar Forest, which provides a stark contrast to the surrounding grassy glens.
• •The summit offers an exceptional, bird's-eye view of the Loch Monar reservoir and its massive gravity dam to the east, a feat of 1950s engineering that completely transformed the drainage of this remote catchment area.
• •Walkers typically approach this hill from the north via Glen Carron, utilizing the lonely level crossing at Attadale before following a long track through the hills—a route that highlights the true scale of the ancient Monar Forest.
• •Despite its modest height, the hill is often bypassed by those bagging the nearby Munros of Lurg Mhòr and Maoile Lunndaidh, making it a sanctuary for those seeking a more solitary day in the hills.
• •Navigating the summit plateau in mist is a notoriously deceptive exercise; the hill is a series of undulating knolls and dark outcrops that seem designed to offer as many false summits as possible before the true cairn is finally reached.