Graham · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Sgorr a' Choise
Sgorr a' Choise (661m) — the peak of the foot — is a sharp little summit in the NN05 square above Glen Duror in upper Appin. The rock-topped cone looks down on Ballachulish, with the Pap of Glencoe across Loch Leven and the Beinn a' Bheithir Munros directly north.
Quick facts
- Height
- 661.8m/ 2171ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 542 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN084551
- Parking
- NN097547
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · rocky hillside 30% · grass and bog 15%
Park beside the road at the head of Glen Duror past the forestry plantation. Follow the forest path east, then strike up the steep west ridge once clear of the trees. The ridge narrows pleasantly toward the summit cone — a short scramble over rock steps brings you to the small top with its open views over Loch Linnhe.
Terrain
Forestry path and break-out point first, then steep heather and grass on the lower west ridge. The final cone has rock steps and a short hands-on section near the top; firm underfoot but quite exposed in wind.
In winter
Sgorr a' Choise gets the full west-coast snowfall of the Ballachulish hills. The rock steps near the summit glaze hard after thaw-freeze and a careful axe placement is needed in early winter. SAIS Glencoe covers the area and avalanche assessment of the steep north flank is worthwhile.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 11m
- Edinburgh3h 2m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Ardgour location; limited coverage on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 03:40
- Civil dusk
- 22:57
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Sgorr a' Choise on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgorr a' Choise — common questions
- How hard is Sgorr a' Choise?
- Sgorr a' Choise is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 542m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Forestry path and break-out point first, then steep heather and grass on the lower west ridge.
- Where do I park for Sgorr a' Choise?
- Standard parking is at NN097547 near Fort William. 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 Sgorr a' Choise?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgorr a' Choise 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 Sgorr a' Choise?
- 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 Sgorr a' Choise?
- Poor. Remote Ardgour location; limited coverage on most networks.
- Is Sgorr a' Choise safe in winter?
- Sgorr a' Choise gets the full west-coast snowfall of the Ballachulish hills. The rock steps near the summit glaze hard after thaw-freeze and a careful axe placement is needed in early winter. SAIS Glencoe covers the area and avalanche assessment of the steep north flank is worthwhile.