Corbett · Cairngorms
Sgor Mor
Sgor Mor — 'the great peak' — is the southern outlier of the central Cairngorms massif, rising above the Linn of Dee and the Geldie Burn on the long approach in to Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mor. The 813m summit is a small granite tor on a broad heathery dome and gives a fine front-row view north into the Cairngorm corries. The mountain is overshadowed by the Munros either side and dismissed by many as too far from a road; that suits anyone wanting solitude on a long Cairngorm day. The walk-in from the Linn of Dee is itself a particularly fine estate-track approaches in eastern Scotland.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, big” · Pronunciation: skor more
Quick facts
- Height
- 813.8m/ 2670ft
- Prominence
- 235 m
- Distance
- 20 km
- Ascent
- 600 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO007914
- Parking
- NO062898
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 64km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
estate track 30% · heather moorland 40% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Start at the Linn of Dee car park managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Cycle or walk the Mar Lodge estate track west up the River Dee for around 6km to White Bridge. Continue south up the Geldie Burn track for a further 2km, then strike south-west off the track and climb onto Sgor Mor's broad north-east ridge. A steady pull through heather and granite leads to the summit cairn. Six hours on foot, less with a bike on the inward track.
Terrain
Estate track for the long approach — superb walking through ancient Caledonian pine remnants. Beyond the track end the underlying ground is heather mixed with granite boulders, drier than the western Highlands. The summit area is a small rocky tor; the descent line is easy in clear weather but the broad plateau can be confusing in cloud.
In winter
Sgor Mor under snow is a quiet alternative to the busier Cairngorm Munros. The long approach freezes hard, making cycling impractical from January onwards but giving fast walking over frozen bog. Snow lies long on the upper plateau; cornices form on the north-east aspect. A serious winter day when the Linn of Dee track is iced.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 49m
- Edinburgh3h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Thin signal in upper Glen Ey area above Braemar
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 22:01
- Civil dawn
- 03:38
- Civil dusk
- 23:02
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgor Mor.
Around Sgor Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Aviemore station
Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
27km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgor Mor — common questions
- What difficulty is Sgor Mor?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgor Mor comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 20km and 600m of ascent on the usual route — 4-7 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Estate track for the long approach — superb walking through ancient Caledonian pine remnants.
- How much drop does Sgor Mor have?
- The drop is 235m: measured from the summit of Sgor Mor down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Sgor Mor?
- Park at NO062898. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Sgor Mor?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Sgor Mor. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Sgor Mor?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Sgor Mor?
- Thin signal in upper Glen Ey area above Braemar
- Is Sgor Mor safe in winter?
- Sgor Mor under snow is a quiet alternative to the busier Cairngorm Munros. The long approach freezes hard, making cycling impractical from January onwards but giving fast walking over frozen bog. Snow lies long on the upper plateau; cornices form on the north-east aspect. A serious winter day when the Linn of Dee track is iced.
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