Sgurr a' Mhaim routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 2 measured routes up Sgurr a' Mhaim, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Sgurr a' Mhaim routes, easiest to hardest

Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.

Sgurr a' Mhaim route times by Naismith's rule

The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.

Each Sgurr a' Mhaim route

Achriabhach via the north-west ridge

A steep path climbs the long north-west ridge on grass and then quartzite scree to the summit. It starts from Achriabhach (Glen Nevis lower falls). 3.8 km one way with 1,041 m of ascent. About 2h 30m to the summit and 3h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.

Devil's Ridge from Sgurr an Iubhair

You gain the main Mamores ridge and cross the narrow Devil's Ridge north to the summit, with one short step that needs hands. It starts from Achriabhach (Glen Nevis lower falls). 5.1 km one way with 1,205 m of ascent. About 3h 0m to the summit and 4h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Scramble.

Sgurr a' Mhaim route GPX

This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Sgurr a' Mhaim route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Sgurr a' Mhaim, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.

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Before you pick a route

The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Sgurr a' Mhaim today and the Sgurr a' Mhaim 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Sgurr a' Mhaim routes

The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.

Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

If you are new to Sgurr a' Mhaim, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.

Questions about Sgurr a' Mhaim

What is the easiest route up Sgurr a' Mhaim?

Climb the north-west ridge from Achriabhach in Glen Nevis. The path is steep and stony, but it avoids the Devil's Ridge.

How much time does each Sgurr a' Mhaim route take?

Achriabhach via the north-west ridge: about 2h 30m up and 3h 15m there and back. Devil's Ridge from Sgurr an Iubhair: about 3h 0m up and 4h 5m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.

Can I get a GPX file for a Sgurr a' Mhaim route?

Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.