Eventually, I will get around to writing up all my mountain hikes to date (well, maybe) but I realised today that I hadn’t yet written up my very first solo munro hike – Sgòr Gaoith. This was a hike back in October 2021 but even now, some 3o munros and many random hikes later, this still has a place in my top 10 mountain hike views in Scotland.
I was holidaying with family in 2021 not too far from Aviemore. I took a little day to myself, drove to Glen Feshie early in the morning and set about bagging my very first solo hiking munro.
I had hiked alone plenty. But never had I taken on a munro on my own. So this would be a first – and actually was a great one to take on, giving me the confidence to go on and continue solo bagging others.
| Hike date | 28th October 2021 |
| Weather conditions | A reasonably chilly day but with clear skies and good conditions. |
| Distance hiked | Approx 17km (as measured on Apple Watch. AllTrails estimated 15km for my circular route but I do tend to wander off path a lot to look at things) |
| Walking time | 5 hours 15 minutes according to my Apple Watch data (including all the photo stops and food on the summit) |
| Elevation gain total | 1,069m |
| Terrain | Good footpaths from Glen Feshie up to the final ascent of Sgòr Gaoith. The subsequent 2 munro tops I took in were largely pathless. |
| Hiked with | Solo |
Sgòr Gaoith Route (Including Meall Buidhe and Gael Charn)
I did an extended circular route which started in Glen Feshie, went up to the summit of Sgòr Gaoith and then went on to bag the munro tops of Meall Buidhe and Gael Charn. Here’s the route:
The route starts in Glen Feshie. There’s a small car park:
Though (as the sign shows) the car park was closed when I visited. I believe it is reopen at the time of writing. I simply parked in a layby close by and walked through the car park to get to the path.
The path takes you through beautiful woodland and I was so lucky to have lovely early morning conditions when I did this.
There’s a gradual ascent through the forest (with one part I recall being a steep bit for maybe 50m or so).
Eventually, you get above the trees and the view back towards Glen Feshie really does open up:
Honestly, these views the whole way up were some of my all time favourite hiking views.
The path was really straightforward to follow most of the way up Sgòr Gaoith. On the final ascent though, it becomes much less clear, a tad grassier/wetter and more a free for all in terms of your route. But by that point you can see the summit if it’s clear so navigating typically isn’t too much of an issue.
And that summit. Wow. What views:
@staceyhikes The views from Sgòr Gaoith really are quite something. This was my first solo munro hike and gave me the bug for walking alone. Don’t get me wrong… hiking with a good hiking buddy is brilliant and I love hiking as a social hobby. But sometimes I want the solitude, the silence and the head space. And there’s better way to spend time alone than hiking in Scotland’s mountains in my view, particularly on days like this one in October 2021. #scotlandtravel #hiketok #hikinguk #scotlandhiking #solohiker #solohiking #sgorgaoith #munrobagging #adventuretime #getoutside #walkitoff #hikinginscotland #mountains #hillbagging ♬ S.T.A.Y. – Hans Zimmer
As far as summits go, this remains one of my favourite to date. It has a dramatic rock formation, stunnning views across to Braeriach and gorgeous views back to Glen Feshie too.
I was so lucky with the weather this day.
I could have stayed up there for hours. But actually I’d have probably got hypothermic. The summit temperatures were cold and the wind chill was biting. So I took some photos, ate something and continued on the circular.
From here on in, across the two munro tops of Meall Buidhe and Gael Charn, the walk is largely pathless and grassy.
The final descent from Gael Charn to rejoin the path back to Glen Feshie was steep and pathless – essentially just walking down a steep grassy hillside hoping not to fall over 😂
But once back on the path to Glen Feshie, it’s a really stunning walk back through the forest on a gradually descending well maintained footpath.
You could, of course, just do the out and back and go from Glen Feshie up to Sgòr Gaoith and back again which I believe comes in at under 8km.
Is Sgòr Gaoith Difficult?
This is a relatively straightforward munro hike in terms of technical requirements and navigation given that so much of the route to the munro summit is pathed.
There is no technical scrambling or anything like that required. But you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness as ever. And if you do intend to complete the circular and grab Meall Buidhe and Gael Charn while you’re up there, you’ll need to be aware of the pathless nature of the terrain and feel confident navigating.
In all though, this is one of the more straightforward munro hikes in my opinion. It is worth adding, though, that the weather can make a simple walk a really tricky one. So everything is weather and experience dependent.
Would I do it again?
Yes. I don’t mind the idea of repeating a munro or two. As time goes on I fall more in love with walking in general and become less concerned with ticking boxes off. And for that view, this is definitely one I would revisit.
