Sgurr Ban

Sgurr Ban is a very rough and stony mountain 1½ kilometres north of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair in the eastern part of the Fisherfield Forest. The upper part is almost entirely covered with quartzite boulders whose pale grey appearance give the mountain its name and give the hillwalker some very rough walking. Low down on the east side of Sgurr Ban on the slopes above Loch an Nid there are some extensive areas of bare quartzite slabs set at an easy angle, ideal for padding up when they are dry, but beware when they are wet.

Sgurr Ban is a long way from any starting point on a public road. It might be climbed with Beinn Tarsuinn and Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair from Kinlochewe, or with Beinn a' Chlaidheimh from Corrie Hallie, but these are both very long days. The shortest approach to the mountain is from the A832 road 6 kilometres from Braemore Junction at the point where a track leads to Loch a' Bhraoin. Follow this track and the path south-westwards along the side of the loch, past Lochivraon bothy and 3½ kilometres further west to the strath of Loch an Nid. Cross the strath and climb west then north-west up the bare slopes of Sgurr Ban. In places it is possible to pad up the easy-angled slabs to the quartzite boulder field of the summit.

(Copyright The Scottish Mountaineering Club)