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
- Prominence
- 198 m
- Distance
- ~13 km
- Ascent
- ~540 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN685881
- Parking
- NN596897
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 57km
- 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
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.
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
- 06:16
- Sunset
- 20:18
- Civil dawn
- 05:35
- Civil dusk
- 20:59
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026
Around Creag Ruadh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag Ruadh — common questions
- What difficulty is Creag Ruadh?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Creag Ruadh comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 540m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Terrain: Forestry track, plantation break and open heather — straightforward in clear conditions.
- How prominent is Creag Ruadh?
- Creag Ruadh has 198m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Creag Ruadh?
- Standard parking is at NN596897. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I 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?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like 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.
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