Moruisg and Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean, 8th November 2025

This Munro had been a backup on my September trip but the wind had kept me off even that, and in discussions with Steg afterwards, we had spotted that the neighbouring peak, Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean, used to be a Munro. It was reclassified in 2009, long after I started climbing the Munros. We both agreed that we would prefer to climb all 284 originals, so we agreed over dinner one night that this would be included when either of us come to do it.

I'd been invited to a weekend with some friends in Aviemore for two nights, so I decided I'd just use the first night as an excuse to head further north and get Moruisg and Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean in. If I'd timed it right, I'd be out before the first proper snows of Winter arrived meaning I could move quickly over the terrain.

Drama struck immediately however. One of my friends had gotten to Aviemore and realised he'd forgotten his important medication, so I headed over to his house first to pick that up before heading onto the road north. It meant a later departure and an unexpected stop in Aviemore, but the road was dry and the moon was up and lighting up the late autumn night.

I got to Aviemore just after 2000, dropped the medication and more importantly, avoided the temptation to stay for beers!

I headed back up the A9 and got to my favoured camp spot at Silverbridge at 2130, had a wee strum of the guitar and then headed to bed after setting the alarm for 0600.

It was a very dark morning, but I got the bed away, ate my overnight oats, had some coffee and packed what I needed for the day. It was remarkably warm for the time of year. I then headed onto the A890 and down to the start of the route in Glen Carron. There were no other cars as it was quite early, but I got out and was on the hill for 0745. 

Ascent was boggy initially and was then really steep. It was unusually for me, a still day. I didn't get a lot of running done in those first 4km but I was moving well on the steep terrain and enjoying the sun coming up and the clouds in the glens.

Clouds and a light rain shower on ascent

I reached the big cairn that doesn't match the summit point on the map at 0900, then ran along to the other end of the ridge where there is a smaller cairn. It does look slightly higher by eye, but I'm not sure which is really the summit.

Moruisg Cairn

I was starting to get some good views of the Torridon peaks now and could make out the ridge on An Teallach.

Ridge View

Now it was time to move quickly! I headed down the ridge, keeping the corrie to my right and a close eye on my feet. Then there was a steep climb up to the top of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean which I just ate up. I was on the summit (again 2 cairns, the bigger seeming lower) at 0945, 2 hours after starting.

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean big cairn (and Torridon)

Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean wee cairn

Views North

The descent back to the bealach was fine, I didn't even need gloves. What looked like a very steep descent into the corrie turned out to be quite reasonable.

I could hear the stags roaring in the corrie, then I spotted them so made some noise myself and that caused them to move uphill a bit, out of my way.

It was a boggy pathless descent until it flattened out, and then there was a path through new forestry. However, that was boggy as well, so I just went with it, I'd kept dry feet for just over 2 hours, might as well accept it.

I made it back to the van at 1110, ready to head back to Aviemore ready to have some beers and play wingman to Aldo.

Run Distance: 13.16km

Hike Time: 3h 22m

Ascent: 978m

Munros Completed: 230 (+1 demoted to Corbett)