Graham · North-West Highlands
Creag Dhubh Mhor
Creag Dhubh Mhor (611m), the great black crag, rises north of Strath Bran in the NG94 square between Achnasheen and Strathcarron. Its small summit cairn caps a sweep of dark Torridonian sandstone above an unnamed lochan. The view is dominated by the great line of Torridon peaks running west and by Sgurr nan Ceannaichean immediately to the south.
Gaelic: “crag, black, big” · Pronunciation: krayg goo vore
Quick facts
- Height
- 611m/ 2005ft
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 458 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG982404
- Parking
- NG991411
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 68km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rocky hillside 35% · grass and sedge 15%
From the layby at NG991411 west of Achnasheen, take the stalkers' path up the southern flank before contouring across to the open hillside. The ridge above is broad with several minor knolls; the summit is the highest of these and bears a small cairn on its rocky crown. Allow five hours for the round; the descent retraces the route to avoid steep ground falling north toward Loch Sgamhain.
Terrain
Heathery bog and lochan country fills the approach; deer trods provide the best line through. The upper ridge is dark sandstone benches with patches of short turf. A scatter of small lochans confuses navigation in cloud — bearings are essential.
In winter
North-westerly snow showers off the Torridon hills sweep Strath Bran in winter and Creag Dhubh Mhor's exposed sandstone benches ice over readily. The lochans on the approach can hide under thin ice; stay clear of obviously wet hollows. An axe is sensible above 500m once snow lies.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 34m
- Edinburgh4h 2m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Strath Bran/Wester Ross; limited coverage on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:35
- Sunset
- 22:04
- Civil dawn
- 03:32
- Civil dusk
- 23:07
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Creag Dhubh Mhor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag Dhubh Mhor — common questions
- How hard is Creag Dhubh Mhor?
- Creag Dhubh Mhor is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 458m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Heathery bog and lochan country fills the approach; deer trods provide the best line through.
- Where do I park for Creag Dhubh Mhor?
- Standard parking is at NG991411 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Creag Dhubh Mhor?
- The standard good-weather months for Creag Dhubh Mhor are May, June, July, August, September. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Creag Dhubh Mhor?
- 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 Creag Dhubh Mhor?
- Poor. Remote Strath Bran/Wester Ross; limited coverage on most networks.
- Is Creag Dhubh Mhor safe in winter?
- North-westerly snow showers off the Torridon hills sweep Strath Bran in winter and Creag Dhubh Mhor's exposed sandstone benches ice over readily. The lochans on the approach can hide under thin ice; stay clear of obviously wet hollows. An axe is sensible above 500m once snow lies.