Sgorach Mor and An Creachan Loop

This difficult loop over Sgorach Mor and An Creachan packs a lot into roughly 10 km / 6.2 miles, with about 700 m / 2,300 ft of ascent. It is a short route on paper, but it feels much bigger on the ground because the terrain is often rough, steep, wet, and only intermittently defined. The high point, Sgorach Mor, rises to about 602 m / 1,976 ft, while nearby An Creachan reaches about 580 m / 1,903 ft and is marked by a trig point. (mudandroutes.com)

The route lies in Cowal, Argyll and Bute, above Loch Tarsan and close to the hamlets of Glenlean and Clachaig on the B836. If you are converting the start location to a practical landmark, the clearest reference point is the Loch Tarsan east dam on the B836 near Glenlean Farm, Dunoon PA23 area, a commonly used access point for these hills. Sgorach Mor sits just northwest of this road line, with Loch Tarsan immediately below and Benmore and Sandbank the nearest better-known settlements on the approach. (mapcarta.com)

Getting there by car is the simplest option. From Dunoon, follow the A815 north past Benmore, then turn onto the B836 toward Loch Tarsan and Loch Striven. The B836 is a single-track road crossing the Cowal peninsula, and the east dam area by Loch Tarsan is the usual roadside start for ascents here, so arrive early and park carefully without blocking gates or estate access. Benmore Botanic Garden, about 6 miles north of Dunoon on the A815, is a useful waypoint on the drive in. (wiki.aaroads.com)

Public transport is possible only to the wider area, not usually right to the hill start. Dunoon is the main gateway, and regular bus services run between Dunoon and Benmore Botanic Garden. From there, reaching the Loch Tarsan start still requires a substantial road transfer, so most hikers will need a taxi for the final leg or a very long walk-in. If planning with digital mapping, HiiKER is the best tool to check the road approach, parking options, and the exact line of the loop before setting out. (discoverscottishgardens.org)

What the route feels like on the ground

Expect a hill day that begins without much ceremony. The lower slopes are shaped by forestry, old breaks, rough tracks, and wet ground rather than a neat built path. Reports from this side of the hill describe access via a gate east of the dam near Glenlean Farm, then a line through field edge, conduit, forestry track, and a grassy but increasingly eroded track before breaking out onto open hillside. That means the first 1.5 to 2 km / 0.9 to 1.2 miles can be the fiddliest part of the day, especially after rain or in summer growth. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Once above the forestry, the character improves dramatically. The route climbs onto open moor and heather slopes, often following old fence lines and broad ridges toward Sgorach Beag and then Sgorach Mor. The ascent is steady rather than technical,