Munro · North-West Highlands
A' Chailleach
A' Chailleach (998m) — "the old woman" — is the westernmost of the western Fannaichs, sitting paired with Sgùrr Breac at the western end of the long Fannaich chain. The hill is widely regarded as one of the best Northern Highlands viewpoints for An Teallach, lying directly opposite its sandstone walls across Strath na Sealga. The two western Fannaichs are almost always climbed together from Loch a' Bhraoin.
Quick facts
- Height
- 998.6m/ 3276ft
- Prominence
- 183 m
- Distance
- ~17 km
- Ascent
- ~879 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH136714
- Parking
- NH162759
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 59km
- 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
Path from Loch a' Bhraoin 30% · Open hillside 40% · Summit ridge 30%
See Sgùrr Breac for the standard pair route from Loch a' Bhraoin. After Sgùrr Breac, continue west along the broad connecting ridge over the Toman Coinich bealach to A' Chailleach. The summit is reached over a steady grassy climb. Descend the steep north ridge directly to the lochside path and return to the A832 lay-by. Around 19km with 1100m of ascent for the pair; A' Chailleach alone via the north ridge is 14km with 900m up.
Terrain
The Loch a' Bhraoin lochside path is firm but boggy in places. The connecting ridge between Sgùrr Breac and A' Chailleach is broad with peat hags in the Toman Coinich bealach. The A' Chailleach summit is a cairn on a small rocky outcrop. The north ridge descent to the loch is sustained steep grass and heather — slippery in the wet. The summit gives the iconic view of An Teallach across Strath na Sealga.
In winter
A serious west Fannaich winter day. A' Chailleach's north ridge gathers wind-loaded snow when westerly storms strike. Persistent cornicing develops on the north side of the summit area. The peat-hagged Toman Coinich bealach drifts heavily and slows progress underfoot. The A832 at Braemore stays gritted; no phone signal on the hill. The relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Torridon.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 3m
- Edinburgh4h 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 19
Mobile signal: Dead above 700m in the western Fannaich. Achnasheen has 4G. The Loch a' Bhraoin approach is completely out of range.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:33
- Sunset
- 20:04
- Civil dawn
- 05:53
- Civil dusk
- 20:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from A' Chailleach.
Around A' Chailleach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
A' Chailleach — common questions
- Is A' Chailleach a hard climb?
- A' Chailleach is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 879m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Underfoot: The Loch a' Bhraoin lochside path is firm but boggy in places.
- What is A' Chailleach's prominence?
- 183m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links A' Chailleach to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for A' Chailleach?
- Most walkers start from NH162759 near Ullapool. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb A' Chailleach?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on A' Chailleach. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is A' Chailleach dog-friendly?
- 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 A' Chailleach?
- Dead above 700m in the western Fannaich. Achnasheen has 4G. The Loch a' Bhraoin approach is completely out of range.
- Is A' Chailleach safe in winter?
- A serious west Fannaich winter day. A' Chailleach's north ridge gathers wind-loaded snow when westerly storms strike. Persistent cornicing develops on the north side of the summit area. The peat-hagged Toman Coinich bealach drifts heavily and slows progress underfoot. The A832 at Braemore stays gritted; no phone signal on the hill. The relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Torridon.
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