What difficulty is An Sgarsoch?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, An Sgarsoch comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 886m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Geldie estate landrover track is firm and ideal for bikes for the long approach.

How much drop does An Sgarsoch have?

The drop is 319m: measured from the summit of An Sgarsoch down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for An Sgarsoch?

Park at NO062898 near Perth. 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 An Sgarsoch?

Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on An Sgarsoch. 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 An Sgarsoch?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Chris Eilbeck / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Munro · Cairngorms

An Sgarsoch

An Sgarsoch (1006m) is one of the most remote Munros in Scotland — a broad mossy summit standing on the watershed between Glen Feshie, Glen Tilt and the Geldie river. The name means "the place of sharp rocks" though the hill itself is anything but sharp. Historically a cattle drovers' tryst site (the great Sgarsoch fair) — there are still remains of stone-built drovers' shielings near the summit. Always paired with its near-twin Càrn an Fhìdhleir on a long expedition through some of the wildest country in Scotland.

Quick facts

Height: 1006.5m/ 3302ft
Prominence: 319 m
Distance: ~17 km
Ascent: ~886 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN933836
Parking: NO062898
Nearest: Perth· Inverness 67km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

Glen track 50% · Open moorland 35% · Summit 15%

17km · 886m ascent · 4.9 hrs

The most efficient approach is from Linn of Dee (NTS) — cycle west up the Geldie track to the disused White Bridge ruins (around 9km), then climb the broad north-east slope of An Sgarsoch directly. Traverse west to Càrn an Fhìdhleir, returning across the broad bealach and the same Geldie track. Alternatively a multi-day walk-in from Blair Atholl via Glen Tilt and the Feith Uaine bothy. Round-trip from Linn of Dee with bike is 32km with 800m of ascent.

Terrain

The Geldie estate landrover track is firm and ideal for bikes for the long approach. The Geldie water crossings (Geldie Burn and Bynack Burn) can be impassable after rain — assess before committing. Off the tracks the going is rough wet heather and peat hags. The summit area is a vast featureless mossy plateau with a small cairn — a serious navigation challenge in cloud. The bealach to Càrn an Fhìdhleir is broad and boggy.

In winter

A genuinely remote winter Munro day. The Linn of Dee road can sometimes drift but is usually open. The Geldie crossings can be unfordable after snowmelt or in spate. The vast featureless summits are exposed to easterly continental winds and accumulate deep drifts. Phone signal absent throughout the day. Self-sufficient winter navigation essential.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers An Sgarsoch. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 37m
Edinburgh2h 26m

Parking: NO062898

OS maps: OS Landranger 43

Mobile signal: No signal whatsoever. As remote as any of the Munros in Scotland. Linn of Dee is the last point with any coverage. Download Harvey Cairngorms before leaving Braemar.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 48mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:29
Sunset: 19:57
Civil dawn: 05:49
Civil dusk: 20:37

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from An Sgarsoch.

Multi-day with bothy
An Sgarsoch + Carn an Fhidhleir (Carn Ealar)
An Sgarsoch and Carn an Fhidhleir are the remote Athole pair — usually combined on a two-day trip using the Feith Uaine bothy.
40km · 1200m ascent · 14 hrs

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Around An Sgarsoch on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Blair Atholl station

Beinn a Ghlo; Glen Tilt corridor north to the Cairngorms

19km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Kingussie

Monadhliath and western Cairngorms base on the Highland Main Line

25km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Edradour

Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting

25km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

An Sgarsoch — common questions

What difficulty is An Sgarsoch?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, An Sgarsoch comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 886m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Geldie estate landrover track is firm and ideal for bikes for the long approach.
How much drop does An Sgarsoch have?: The drop is 319m: measured from the summit of An Sgarsoch down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for An Sgarsoch?: Park at NO062898 near Perth. 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 An Sgarsoch?: Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on An Sgarsoch. 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 An Sgarsoch?: 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 An Sgarsoch?: No signal whatsoever. As remote as any of the Munros in Scotland. Linn of Dee is the last point with any coverage. Download Harvey Cairngorms before leaving Braemar.
Is An Sgarsoch safe in winter?: A genuinely remote winter Munro day. The Linn of Dee road can sometimes drift but is usually open. The Geldie crossings can be unfordable after snowmelt or in spate. The vast featureless summits are exposed to easterly continental winds and accumulate deep drifts. Phone signal absent throughout the day. Self-sufficient winter navigation essential.

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