Sgùrr na Lapaich

Sgùrr na Lapaich, at 1,150 metres, is the highest peak in the remote and enormous range of mountains north of Loch Mullardoch, the fourth highest mountain north of the Great Glen, and a prominent landmark visible as far away as the Moray Firth — locals reportedly use its visibility as a weather guide. It should not be confused with another, lower "top" of the same name near Mam Sodhail.

The most straightforward approach starts from the Loch Mullardoch dam car park at the end of the Glen Cannich road, climbing the Munro of Càrn nan Gobhar by its south ridge before heading north-west to a col at 796 metres and up Sgùrr na Lapaich's broad, grassy east ridge, becoming rocky with some easy scrambling near the top. An alternative and quicker route starts from the Gleann Innis an Loichel power station in Glen Strathfarrar — reached via a private road with restricted gate access times — following a stalkers' path to the col shared with the neighbouring Munro of An Riabhachan, then a further climb of over 300 metres to the summit.

The rocky summit, marked by the remains of a trig point within a boulder dyke, offers magnificent views: Lurg Mhòr rising above Loch Monar to the north, and Loch Mullardoch and the peaks of Affric stretching south. Most parties climb Sgùrr na Lapaich as part of the demanding northern Mullardoch circuit alongside Càrn nan Gobhar, An Riabhachan, and An Socach, with the truly committed extending to the full Mullardoch Round of twelve Munros — an exceptionally serious undertaking, either a single very long day for elite runners or a two-to-three-day backpacking expedition for most hillwalkers.

The Strathfarrar approach alone is around 17 kilometres with 1,000 metres of ascent, typically four to five hours; the full four-Munro Mullardoch circuit is a substantially longer day, often eight to eleven hours or more.

This is remote, committing terrain with escape routes limited and largely discouraged — dropping to the loch shore itself is widely regarded by regular visitors as genuinely miserable going, best avoided unless absolutely necessary. Full navigation and self-sufficiency are essential given the distances involved.

The Loch Mullardoch dam parking area is free; the Strathfarrar road is private with restricted access times, and there is no public transport to either start.