Sgùrr Fhuaran is a Scottish mountain that is situated on the northern side of Glen Shiel, east-southeast of Kyle of Lochalsh.
Overview The mountain reaches a height of and qualifies as a Munro and a Marilyn; it is the highest point for a significant distance, having a sizeable topographic prominence of and giving extensive views from its summit.
The meaning of the mountain’s name is obscure."The Munros" (page 175) says mountains name is obscure. Sgùrr Fhuaran may mean "Peak of wells or springs" and many streams issue from the mountains slopes. Other possible meanings proposed are that the proper name is Sgùrr Urain, the Peak of Odhran, named after a disciple of Columba,"The Magic of the Munros" (page 134) gives translation as Peak of Odhran. or that the second part of the name derives from "odhran-choin", here meaning "wolf". The mountain is referred to in the war cry or heraldic slogan "Sgùrr Uaran" of Clan Macrae, which occupied lands in the Kintail area.SGURR UARAN
Geography is one of three mountains that make up the Five Sisters of Kintail (the other two being and ) and when seen from above Loch Duich, the Five Sisters are one of the best known views in the Western Highlands of Scotland. The legend of the Five Sisters of Kintail tells the story of seven sisters, daughters of a local farmer, two of whom married visiting brothers who said they would send their five other brothers for the remaining five sisters to wed. However, no one returned and the five remaining sisters agreed for a local wizard to transform them into peaks in order to preserve their beauty while they waited."100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains" Page 104 Gives details of legend.
Sgùrr Fhuaran is a distinctive peak with steep slopes which drop away to Glen Shiel on its western flank at an angle of over 30 degrees giving the mountain a feeling of great height. It has four main ridges, the best known of these is the WNW ridge which is conspicuous in views from Glen Shiel, it drops away precipitously from the summit to descend in just over to the River Shiel in the valley. The southern ridge connects to the adjoining Munro of , which lies away.
The eastern ridge which is a narrow knife edge in places gives a dramatic ascent route from Glenlicht House at the head of the remote Gleann Lichd. Between the southern and eastern ridges lies the impressive Coire Domhain to which the mountain drops almost vertically. The northern ridge goes to the Munro “top” of (Peak of the Arrows) which with a height of lies away from the main summit. It is one of the Five Sisters and regarded by many as the finest, being narrow and exposed."The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains" Page 162 "Sgùrr na Saighead ... In many ways the finest of the group". This northern ridge continues for a further to reach sea level at the shores of Loch Duich.
Ascents The direct ascent of Sgùrr Fhuaran starts at sea level at the foot of Glen Shiel (grid reference ): before the A87 crosses the Shiel bridge, a grass path on the north side of the river and loch Shiel leads to the remains of a footbridge and an unrelenting steep climb up the WNW ridge. A more interesting variation takes in Sgùrr na Saighead on the way and then follows the north ridge to the main summit. The full traverse of the Five Sisters ridge is rated by mountain writers as among the best walks in Scotland,walkhighlands.co.uk details quality of Five Sisters Ridge Walk. the only problem with which lies with transport between the starting and finishing points of the walk, apart. The best solution to this is to start at Morvich in Strath Croe () and walk up Gleann Lichd to its head, before ascending to walk the ridge south to north, finishing at the shores of Loch Duich near the day's starting point."100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains" Page 104 Gives details of circuit from Strath Croe.
Notes
References The Munros, Donald Bennet et al.: Scottish Mountaineering Trust: 100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains, Ralph Storer, Hamish’s Mountain Walk, Hamish Brown, The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Irvine Butterfield, The Magic Of The Munros, Irvine Butterfield, The Munros, Britains Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish,