Sgurr a' Mhadaidh

About Sgurr a' Mhadaidh

Tucked into the heart of the Black Cuillin, this Munro is defined by its four distinct peaks and the notoriously steep scree ascent to the notch of An Dorus. While the main summit is a rugged scramble over grippy gabbro, the three remaining tops remain the technical preserve of rock climbers.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Scottish Gaelic 'Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh', translating as the Peak of the Fox or Peak of the Dog. In the Cuillin, 'madadh' usually refers to the fox, a common inhabitant of the lower corries before the terrain turns to vertical stone.
• •While recorded as a single Munro, the mountain consists of four separate tops. The highest point (918m) is the only one accessible to scramblers; the Central, West, and East peaks require technical climbing skills and ropes to reach safely.
• •The standard approach is via An Dorus, which means 'The Door'. This narrow notch in the ridge is a classic example of differential erosion, where a dyke of softer basalt has worn away much faster than the surrounding gabbro to create a physical gap.
• •The summit offers a spectacular perspective on the 'Y-shaped' ridge of Bidein Druim nan Ramh to the north, and a vertigo-inducing look straight down into the bowl of Loch Coruisk.
• •Descending the western gully from An Dorus back toward Glen Brittle is a test of patience; for every three steps you take down, several tons of mobile scree will usually attempt to accompany you.