Graham · Central Highlands
Creag Ruadh
Creag Ruadh (658m) — the red crag — perches above Loch Laggan in the NN68 square, west of Sherramore. The small cairn occupies a heathery shoulder with the Ardverikie estate spread below; reddish granite outcrops on the south face give the hill its name.
Gaelic: “crag, red” · Pronunciation: krayg roo-ah
Quick facts
- Height
- 658.8m/ 2161ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 540 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN685881
- Parking
- NN596897
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky outcrops 10%
Begin from the parking near Sherramore on the south side of Loch Laggan. A landrover track climbs south into the forestry plantation before a break leads onto open hillside. Strike up the broad north-east shoulder on rough heather to gain the rolling crest, then follow it south-west to the small summit cairn.
Terrain
Forestry track, plantation break and open heather — straightforward in clear conditions. The crest is broad with several false tops; the true summit is the southernmost mound topped by a small cairn.
In winter
Snowfall on the Ardverikie side of Loch Laggan is patchy but consolidates into hard névé on north slopes. The forest provides shelter on approach; once on the open shoulder the wind from the loch can be relentless. A short winter day is genuinely tight here without an early start.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 37m
- Edinburgh3h 43m
OS maps: OS Landranger 35, OS Explorer 402
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Sherramore / south Loch Laggan area; weak on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 21:55
- Civil dawn
- 03:32
- Civil dusk
- 22:56
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Creag Ruadh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
5km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
33km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
6km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Creag Ruadh — common questions
- How hard is Creag Ruadh?
- Creag Ruadh is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 540m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Forestry track, plantation break and open heather — straightforward in clear conditions.
- Where do I park for Creag Ruadh?
- Standard parking is at NN596897 near Inverness. 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 Ruadh?
- The standard good-weather months for Creag Ruadh are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Ruadh?
- 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 Ruadh?
- Poor. Remote Sherramore / south Loch Laggan area; weak on most networks.
- Is Creag Ruadh safe in winter?
- Snowfall on the Ardverikie side of Loch Laggan is patchy but consolidates into hard névé on north slopes. The forest provides shelter on approach; once on the open shoulder the wind from the loch can be relentless. A short winter day is genuinely tight here without an early start.