Graham · North-West Highlands
Sgurr a' Gharaidh
A craggy Graham rising directly from the south shore of Loch Carron, west of Lochcarron village. Its complex of crags and lochans makes it feel like a much bigger hill than 732m suggests.
Quick facts
- Height
- 732.3m/ 2403ft
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 600 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG884443
- Parking
- NG900452
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 78km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
road access 15% · heather hillside 50% · grassy ridge 25% · summit area 10%
Start from the New Kelso forestry car park west of Lochcarron. Follow the forest road into Coire na Sgairde, then break south-west onto open hillside. The summit is reached by a winding line between sandstone outcrops and small lochans.
Terrain
Forest road, then heather, slabby Torridonian sandstone and bog around the summit lochans. Navigation through the upper crag system requires concentration — there are several false summits.
In winter
The complex summit terrain becomes a navigation puzzle in cloud. Snow tends to drift into the lochan hollows and disguise wet ground. Loch Carron weather can switch from clear to whiteout in under an hour.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 42m
- Edinburgh4h 12m
OS maps: OS Landranger 24
Mobile signal: Signal in Lochcarron village; gone within five minutes of leaving the road
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:35
- Sunset
- 22:04
- Civil dawn
- 03:32
- Civil dusk
- 23:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr a' Gharaidh.
Around Sgurr a' Gharaidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr a' Gharaidh — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr a' Gharaidh?
- Sgurr a' Gharaidh is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 600m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-7 hours. Terrain: Forest road, then heather, slabby Torridonian sandstone and bog around the summit lochans.
- Where do I park for Sgurr a' Gharaidh?
- Standard parking is at NG900452 near Ullapool. 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 Sgurr a' Gharaidh?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr a' Gharaidh 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 Sgurr a' Gharaidh?
- 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 Sgurr a' Gharaidh?
- Signal in Lochcarron village; gone within five minutes of leaving the road
- Is Sgurr a' Gharaidh safe in winter?
- The complex summit terrain becomes a navigation puzzle in cloud. Snow tends to drift into the lochan hollows and disguise wet ground. Loch Carron weather can switch from clear to whiteout in under an hour.