Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh
Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh (967m) — "peak of the warriors" — is the western Munro of the Aonach Eagach, regularly cited as the narrowest mainland ridge in Britain. The full Aonach Eagach traverse from Am Bodach (east) to Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh is one of the most committing scrambles on the British mainland — a sustained Grade 3 line over the famous pinnacles, with no realistic escape once committed. Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh itself is the broad western terminus where the ridge widens out before descending to Glencoe village.
Quick facts
- Height
- 967.7m/ 3175ft
- Prominence
- 623 m
- Distance
- 9.5 km
- Ascent
- 1100 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN140583
- Parking
- NN173566
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 16km
- 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
A82 start 10% · Exposed ridge scramble 60% · Descent from Sgorr nam Fiannaidh 30%
The classic line is the full Aonach Eagach traverse, west-bound only (the ridge is too technical to reverse). Park near the Allt-na-reigh cottage on the A82 in Glen Coe. Climb the steep north ridge of Am Bodach to the eastern end of the ridge, then traverse west over the Aonach Eagach pinnacles — sustained Grade 3 scrambling with continuous exposure — to Meall Dearg (Munro) and finally Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh. Descend the south-west slopes to Loch Achtriochtan via the Pap of Glencoe path. Around 9.5km with 1100m of ascent.
Terrain
The Aonach Eagach pinnacles section is sustained Grade 3 scrambling on andesitic rock with continuous airy exposure. The pinnacles themselves cannot be reversed — once committed, the only forward direction is west. The Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh summit area is broad with the trig pillar at the high point. The descent off the south-west slopes towards the Pap of Glencoe is steep grass and broken rock. Avoid the Clachaig Gully descent — a notorious accident black spot.
In winter
A premier Scottish winter mountaineering objective. Under winter conditions the Aonach Eagach pinnacles climb at Grade III as a sustained technical route — committing and fully exposed. Persistent cornicing forms along the north flank of the ridge. Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh as a single Munro from Glencoe village is a more modest day in winter. The A82 corridor stays gritted; SAIS Glencoe applies.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 12m
- Edinburgh3h 58m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: No signal on the Aonach Eagach ridge. Glencoe village has reasonable 4G. Grab maps before entering the pass.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:03
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 04:09
- Civil dusk
- 22:44
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.
Around Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh 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
16km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
16km 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
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh — common questions
- What difficulty is Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 9.5km and 1100m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Aonach Eagach pinnacles section is sustained Grade 3 scrambling on andesitic rock with continuous airy exposure.
- What is Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh's prominence?
- 623m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh?
- Most walkers start from NN173566. 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 Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh. 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 Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh 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 Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh?
- No signal on the Aonach Eagach ridge. Glencoe village has reasonable 4G. Grab maps before entering the pass.
- Is Aonach Eagach - Sgorr nam Fiannaidh safe in winter?
- A premier Scottish winter mountaineering objective. Under winter conditions the Aonach Eagach pinnacles climb at Grade III as a sustained technical route — committing and fully exposed. Persistent cornicing forms along the north flank of the ridge. Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh as a single Munro from Glencoe village is a more modest day in winter. The A82 corridor stays gritted; SAIS Glencoe applies.
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