Munro · Kintail
Aonach air Chrith
Aonach air Chrith (1019m) — "trembling ridge" — is the highest of the seven Munros on the celebrated South Glen Shiel Ridge, the long undulating crest that walls in the southern side of Glen Shiel. The full seven-Munro traverse is one of the great Scottish ridge walks. Aonach air Chrith itself sits at the central high point of the ridge, with the most striking views from any summit on the line — south across Loch Quoich to Knoydart and north over Glen Shiel to the Five Sisters.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1019.5m/ 3345ft
- Prominence
- 493 m
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 1975 m
- Time
- 9–12 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH051083
- Parking
- NH077117
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 35km
- 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
Steep hillside 45% · Open ridge 45% · Rocky summit 10%
Most parties tackle the full seven-Munro traverse from Cluanie Inn at the east end of Glen Shiel to the Bealach Duibh Leac then descent at Shiel Bridge. From Cluanie take the old road south, then climb the east end of the ridge at Creag a' Mhaim and traverse west over six more Munros (Druim Shionnach, Aonach air Chrith, Maol Chinn-Dearg, Sgurr an Doire Leathain, Sgurr an Lochain, Creag nan Damh) to Shiel Bridge. Around 22km with 2000m of ascent — a long day. Aonach air Chrith alone direct from the A87 is 9km with 1100m up.
Terrain
The Cluanie approach via the old road and stalkers' path is mostly good. The South Glen Shiel ridge crest is broad mossy turf and short grass with occasional rocky sections — easy walking but undulating with constant re-ascent between summits. The summit of Aonach air Chrith is a small rocky platform. The descent off Creag nan Damh at the west end is steep and rough. Direct ascents from the A87 are brutally steep grass and rock.
In winter
A long, committing winter ridge traverse. The full seven-Munro line in winter is among the longer single-day outings in Scotland, and once gained the ridge offers few realistic ways down. The narrow undulating crest accumulates cornicing on both sides. The A87 stays gritted, but transport at Shiel Bridge is essential for the linear traverse. There is no mobile reception once on the ridge — consult SAIS Northern Highlands for avalanche guidance.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 56m
- Edinburgh3h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No coverage above 650m on the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Glen Shiel road has occasional signal. Line maps up before the walk-in from Invergarry.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:01
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 04:05
- Civil dusk
- 22:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Aonach air Chrith.
Around Aonach air Chrith on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Aonach air Chrith — common questions
- What difficulty is Aonach air Chrith?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Aonach air Chrith comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 22km and 1975m of ascent on the usual route — 9-12 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Cluanie approach via the old road and stalkers' path is mostly good.
- What is Aonach air Chrith's prominence?
- 493m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Aonach air Chrith to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Aonach air Chrith?
- Most walkers start from NH077117. 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 Aonach air Chrith?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Aonach air Chrith. 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 Aonach air Chrith 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 Aonach air Chrith?
- No coverage above 650m on the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Glen Shiel road has occasional signal. Line maps up before the walk-in from Invergarry.
- Is Aonach air Chrith safe in winter?
- A long, committing winter ridge traverse. The full seven-Munro line in winter is among the longer single-day outings in Scotland, and once gained the ridge offers few realistic ways down. The narrow undulating crest accumulates cornicing on both sides. The A87 stays gritted, but transport at Shiel Bridge is essential for the linear traverse. There is no mobile reception once on the ridge — consult SAIS Northern Highlands for avalanche guidance.
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