Scotland
Sgurr a' Mhaim
1099M
3606FT
About Sgurr a' Mhaim
Rising steeply above Glen Nevis, this prominent Munro is the highest peak in the western Mamores. Its distinctive southern approach is defined by the narrow, rocky Devil’s Ridge, while the quartzite-capped summit provides a sharp, pale contrast to the surrounding glens and exceptional views across to the Ben Nevis massif.
Key Statistics
Rank
23rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
316m
Nearest Town
Fort William
Geology
You are walking on hard quartzite and layered schist. These rocks were once ancient sand and mud, transformed by heat and pressure into this rugged peak.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN164667
Latitude
56.7556°N
Longitude
5.0048°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic for 'Peak of the Large Rounded Hill', with 'màm' often referring to a rounded, breast-shaped hill or a mountain pass.
- •It serves as a dramatic cornerstone of the Ring of Steall, one of Scotland's finest mountain circuits, where it is linked to the rest of the Mamores by the narrow, rock-stepped Devil’s Ridge.
- •The summit is famously covered in white quartzite scree, which catches the light so effectively that the peak can appear to be covered in snow from a distance, even in the height of summer.
- •The view north is dominated by the sheer scale of Ben Nevis; rather than the familiar profile seen from Fort William, you are presented with the massive, dark bulk of the Ben's southern face across the deep trench of Glen Nevis.
- •While the ascent is exhilarating, the direct descent to the north is a legendary knee-shredder, dropping nearly 1,100 metres in one continuous, unforgiving tilt back to the glen floor.