What difficulty is Sail Mhor?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sail Mhor comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 10km and 800m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Excellent path past Ardessie Falls — among the more impressive cascades in Wester Ross.

How much drop does Sail Mhor have?

The drop is 321m: measured from the summit of Sail Mhor down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Sail Mhor?

Park at NH050897 near Ullapool. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.

What's the best month to climb Sail Mhor?

Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sail Mhor. 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 Sail Mhor?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Gordon Brown / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Corbett · North-West Highlands

Sail Mhor

Sail Mhòr — 'the big heel' — is the 767m sandstone Corbett standing immediately west of An Teallach above Little Loch Broom. The mountain is in many ways An Teallach's outlying buttress: the same Torridonian sandstone, the same dramatic ridge architecture, just on a smaller scale. The west face plunges into Coire na Feòla in dramatic cliffs; the north ridge gives a fine summit approach with continuous views across to An Teallach's pinnacles. A useful follow-up summit for parties who have already bagged An Teallach.

Gaelic: “big” · Pronunciation: sail vore

Quick facts

Height: 766.2m/ 2514ft
Prominence: 321 m
Distance: ~10 km
Ascent: ~800 m
Time: 3–5 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NH032887
Parking: NH050897
Nearest: Ullapool· Inverness 77km
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

glen path 20% · steep heather 35% · rocky ridge 35% · summit rocks 10%

10km · 800m ascent · 5.5 hrs

Park at the Ardessie falls layby on the A832 (NH050897), about 3km north-west of the Dundonnell Hotel. Follow the path up the south side of the Allt Airdeasaidh, climbing past the spectacular falls and into Coire an Eich. From the corrie, climb south-west onto Sail Mhòr's north ridge and follow it to the summit cairn. Return reverses the line. Allow 5–6 hours.

Terrain

Excellent path past Ardessie Falls — among the more impressive cascades in Wester Ross. The corrie above is rough heather and grass; higher up, the route crosses sound Torridonian sandstone, with the west side dropping sharply into Coire na Feòla. The summit cairn sits on a small rocky outcrop.

In winter

In winter Sail Mhòr's sandstone ridge ices up readily and the west-face drops become serious. The Ardessie path freezes hard, especially around the falls. Atlantic systems coming up Little Loch Broom deliver punishing weather. In firm conditions a striking short winter day with An Teallach as a backdrop.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Sail Mhor. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow4h 25m
Edinburgh5h 45m

Parking: NH050897IV23 2QS

OS maps: OS Landranger 19

Mobile signal: No signal in the remote Fisherfield/Braemore area

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 47mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:53
Sunset: 18:22
Civil dawn: 07:14
Civil dusk: 19:01

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Sail Mhor.

Big day out
Sail Mhor + An Teallach - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill
Combine Sail Mhor with An Teallach for a magnificent Dundonnell day on two of Wester Ross's finest peaks
22km · 2000m ascent · 11 hrs

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Around Sail Mhor on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Ardgay station

Kyle of Sutherland; Croick; Far North Line

56km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Ullapool

Main NW Highlands hub; Hebrides ferry; Inverpolly access

11km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Sail Mhor — common questions

What difficulty is Sail Mhor?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sail Mhor comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 10km and 800m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Excellent path past Ardessie Falls — among the more impressive cascades in Wester Ross.
How much drop does Sail Mhor have?: The drop is 321m: measured from the summit of Sail Mhor down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Sail Mhor?: Park at NH050897 near Ullapool. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
What's the best month to climb Sail Mhor?: Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sail Mhor. 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 Sail Mhor?: 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 Sail Mhor?: No signal in the remote Fisherfield/Braemore area
Is Sail Mhor safe in winter?: In winter Sail Mhòr's sandstone ridge ices up readily and the west-face drops become serious. The Ardessie path freezes hard, especially around the falls. Atlantic systems coming up Little Loch Broom deliver punishing weather. In firm conditions a striking short winter day with An Teallach as a backdrop.

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