Corbett · Ben Nevis
Cruach Innse
Cruach Innse is the smaller, gentler partner of the Innse pair — twin Corbetts standing at the head of the Lairig Leacach, the pass connecting Glen Spean to Glen Nevis through the heart of the Grey Corries. At 857m it is the lower of the two by a metre, but the broader and more straightforward to climb. The summit gives a panoramic view of the Grey Corries' long quartzite ridge to the south and Ben Nevis to the west — one of the very best front-row seats on the western Highlands.
Quick facts
- Height
- 857m/ 2812ft
- Prominence
- 306 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 850 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN279763
- Parking
- NN256807
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 17km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
forest track 20% · stalkers path 35% · steep grass 30% · summit rocks 15%
The standard approach is from Corriechoille car park near Spean Bridge (NN256807). Walk south through plantation on the forestry track for around 3km, then pick up a good stalkers' path heading south into the Lairig Leacach. After 3km in the pass, branch east up the grassy lower slopes of Cruach Innse and climb the broad north-west ridge to the summit. For the classic double, drop south-east to the bealach and climb Sgurr Innse next. Allow 6 hours for Cruach Innse alone, 8 for both.
Terrain
Forestry track for the first part — straightforward. The stalkers' path along the Lairig Leacach is well-built and pleasant walking. The hill itself is grass and heather on broad gradients with no rocky difficulties. Summit area is broad with a stony cairn.
In winter
A reasonable winter Corbett by Lochaber standards — broad slopes carry no major avalanche risk on the standard line, and the path approach is easy to follow under snow. Cornice on the eastern shoulder forms reliably. The Grey Corries SAIS bulletin covers conditions; expect deep cover from January onwards in cold winters.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 27m
- Edinburgh3h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: EE/Vodafone usable at Corriechoille; no signal once into the Lairig Leacach or on the summit
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:45
- Sunset
- 22:05
- Civil dawn
- 03:45
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Cruach Innse.
Around Cruach Innse on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Roy Bridge station
Glen Roy; Grey Corries (Stob Choire Claurigh, Sgurr Choinnich Mor)
5km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
17km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
16km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cruach Innse — common questions
- What difficulty is Cruach Innse?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Cruach Innse comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 17km and 850m of ascent on the usual route — 4-7 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Forestry track for the first part — straightforward.
- What is Cruach Innse's prominence?
- 306m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cruach Innse to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Cruach Innse?
- Most walkers start from NN256807. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Cruach Innse?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cruach Innse. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Cruach Innse dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Cruach Innse?
- EE/Vodafone usable at Corriechoille; no signal once into the Lairig Leacach or on the summit
- Is Cruach Innse safe in winter?
- A reasonable winter Corbett by Lochaber standards — broad slopes carry no major avalanche risk on the standard line, and the path approach is easy to follow under snow. Cornice on the eastern shoulder forms reliably. The Grey Corries SAIS bulletin covers conditions; expect deep cover from January onwards in cold winters.
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