What difficulty is Meall Doire Faid?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall Doire Faid comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 597m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Boggy moorland for the first kilometre, then firmer ground on the ridge.

How much drop does Meall Doire Faid have?

The drop is 175m: measured from the summit of Meall Doire Faid down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Meall Doire Faid?

Park at NH223795 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 Meall Doire Faid?

Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Meall Doire Faid. 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 Meall Doire Faid?

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: Trevor Littlewood / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · North-West Highlands

Meall Doire Faid

A roadside Graham above the Dirrie More on the A835 between Garve and Ullapool. Easy access from the road makes it a popular leg-stretcher for travellers heading north. 728 m summit, 13 km out-and-back from Ullapool, 597 m of ascent. North-West Highlands.

Quick facts

Height: 728.8m/ 2391ft
Prominence: 175 m
Distance: ~13 km
Ascent: ~597 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NH220792
Parking: NH223795
Nearest: Ullapool· Inverness 56km
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 track 25% · rough heather 45% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%

13km · 597m ascent · 3.6 hrs

Park at the layby near the Allt na Lairige Moire on the A835. A faint path heads south-west across the moor and up the broad north-east ridge. The summit trig stands on a wide stony plateau.

Terrain

Boggy moorland for the first kilometre, then firmer ground on the ridge. Quartzite blocks scattered across the summit plateau. No real path beyond the moor crossing.

In winter

The Dirrie More is one of the snowier mainland passes — A835 closures are common in storms. Once on the hill the angle is gentle but the plateau navigation is demanding under cloud or fresh snowfall.

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

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Meall Doire Faid. 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 10m
Edinburgh4h 25m

Parking: NH223795

OS maps: OS Landranger 20

Mobile signal: Reception along the A835; gone within ten minutes of leaving the road

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 48mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:52
Sunset: 18:21
Civil dawn: 07:12
Civil dusk: 19:00

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Meall Doire Faid 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

39km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Ullapool

Main NW Highlands hub; Hebrides ferry; Inverpolly access

17km 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.

Meall Doire Faid — common questions

What difficulty is Meall Doire Faid?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall Doire Faid comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 597m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Boggy moorland for the first kilometre, then firmer ground on the ridge.
How much drop does Meall Doire Faid have?: The drop is 175m: measured from the summit of Meall Doire Faid down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Meall Doire Faid?: Park at NH223795 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 Meall Doire Faid?: Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Meall Doire Faid. 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 Meall Doire Faid?: 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 Meall Doire Faid?: Reception along the A835; gone within ten minutes of leaving the road
Is Meall Doire Faid safe in winter?: The Dirrie More is one of the snowier mainland passes — A835 closures are common in storms. Once on the hill the angle is gentle but the plateau navigation is demanding under cloud or fresh snowfall.

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