Graham · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Sgorr Mhic Eacharna
Sgorr Mhic Eacharna (650m) is an Ardgour outlier in the NM92 square above Strontian, looking across to Beinn Resipol and out over Loch Sunart. The cairn sits on a sharp shoulder of granite-veined schist with the Sound of Mull stretching south on a clear day.
Quick facts
- Height
- 650.5m/ 2134ft
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 488 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NM928630
- Parking
- NM814617
- 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%
From the Strontian visitor car park, take the minor road north-west to the old lead mines at Bellsgrove. A stalker's path climbs north past the workings, then breaks east onto open ground. Pick up the south-east spur and follow it on grass and outcrop to the cairn — the line is more obvious than the map suggests.
Terrain
Tarred road and mine track first, then a clear stalker's path that fades on the open hillside. The shoulder is firm grass with scattered rock; the cairn perches on the edge of a small crag with a fine drop east.
In winter
Strontian sees soft maritime snow that consolidates quickly into icy patches on the schist. The steeper east drop from the cairn is the main hazard once cornice-loaded. SAIS West Highlands covers Ardgour in winter and is worth a check for any visit above 500m.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 30m
- Edinburgh3h 4m
OS maps: OS Landranger 40
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Strontian / Bellsgrove area; weak on all networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:40
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:40
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgorr Mhic Eacharna.
Around Sgorr Mhic Eacharna on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Glenfinnan station
Glenfinnan Viaduct; Streap, Sgurr Thuilm, Glen Finnan Munros
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
21km 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
23km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgorr Mhic Eacharna — common questions
- How hard is Sgorr Mhic Eacharna?
- Sgorr Mhic Eacharna is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 488m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: Tarred road and mine track first, then a clear stalker's path that fades on the open hillside.
- Where do I park for Sgorr Mhic Eacharna?
- Standard parking is at NM814617 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 Mhic Eacharna?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgorr Mhic Eacharna 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 Sgorr Mhic Eacharna?
- 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 Mhic Eacharna?
- Poor. Remote Strontian / Bellsgrove area; weak on all networks.
- Is Sgorr Mhic Eacharna safe in winter?
- Strontian sees soft maritime snow that consolidates quickly into icy patches on the schist. The steeper east drop from the cairn is the main hazard once cornice-loaded. SAIS West Highlands covers Ardgour in winter and is worth a check for any visit above 500m.