Corbett · Ben Nevis
Leum Uilleim
Leum Uilleim — 'William's leap' — is the Corbett that gives Trainspotting its opening line about Scottish weather, perched directly above the railway station at Corrour. Reaching the foot of the hill requires no car: the ScotRail train from Glasgow Queen Street climbs onto Rannoch Moor and drops you at arguably the most remote stations in Britain, with the 906m summit visible to the south. The walk crosses open moor, climbs onto a grassy ridge, and finishes with views across Loch Ossian to the Ben Alder group and west to the Ben Nevis range.
Quick facts
- Height
- 906.5m/ 2974ft
- Prominence
- 496 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 600 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN330641
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 24km
- 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
railway track 20% · bog and moorland 30% · grassy ascent 40% · summit area 10%
From Corrour Station, follow the path south-west across rough moorland for around 4km, gaining height gradually. The route picks up the broad north-east ridge of Leum Uilleim and climbs steadily to the summit cairn. Strong walkers continue south-west to Beinn a' Bhric for a longer round before returning to Corrour. Catch the train back from the station. Allow 5–6 hours from train to train.
Terrain
Open moorland on the approach — wet underfoot in most conditions, peat hag and tussock. The middle section follows a vague stalkers' line. The upper ridge is broad grass and heather with no rocky difficulties. Summit is a small cairn on a stony top. Train-timing matters more than the walking; check the West Highland Line schedule.
In winter
A great winter Corbett for car-less days — Corrour station stays open year-round and the trains are reliable. The summit holds snow well. The featureless plateau around the top demands careful navigation in cloud. Wind across Rannoch Moor can be ferocious; the train shelter at Corrour is welcome on both ends of the day.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 10m
- Edinburgh3h 45m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: No signal at Corrour or on the hill — Rannoch Moor features as one of the largest mobile blackspots in Britain. The station has no road access
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:46
- Sunset
- 22:04
- Civil dawn
- 03:46
- Civil dusk
- 23:04
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Leum Uilleim.
Around Leum Uilleim on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Corrour station
Highest mainline station; Loch Ossian, Ben Alder, Aonach Beag (Alder)
4km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
24km 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
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Leum Uilleim — common questions
- How hard is Leum Uilleim?
- We grade Leum Uilleim at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. The usual route is around 13km with 600m of climbing; allow 3-5 hours. Ground conditions: Open moorland on the approach — wet underfoot in most conditions, peat hag and tussock.
- How much drop does Leum Uilleim have?
- The drop is 496m: measured from the summit of Leum Uilleim down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- What's the best month to climb Leum Uilleim?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Leum Uilleim. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Leum Uilleim?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Leum Uilleim?
- No signal at Corrour or on the hill — Rannoch Moor features as one of the largest mobile blackspots in Britain. The station has no road access
- Is Leum Uilleim safe in winter?
- A great winter Corbett for car-less days — Corrour station stays open year-round and the trains are reliable. The summit holds snow well. The featureless plateau around the top demands careful navigation in cloud. Wind across Rannoch Moor can be ferocious; the train shelter at Corrour is welcome on both ends of the day.
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