Munro · Kintail
Aonach Meadhoin
Aonach Meadhoin (1001m) — "middle ridge" — is the easternmost Munro of the Brothers of Kintail group on the north side of Glen Shiel. Along with Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg and Sàileag it forms the trio sometimes called the "Brothers" or simply the South Cluanie hills. The full traverse of the three from the A87 is one of the great Kintail ridge days. Aonach Meadhoin is the natural starting or finishing summit when the round is done as an east-west traverse.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1001m/ 3284ft
- Prominence
- 174 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 881 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH048137
- Parking
- NH077117
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 40km
- 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
Glen path 35% · Open hillside 35% · Summit 30%
The classic Brothers traverse is from Cluanie Inn to Shiel Bridge. From Cluanie take the old military road south-west to its high point, then climb directly north up the broad south ridge to Sgurr nan Spainteach (Top) and onto Aonach Meadhoin. Continue west over Sgùrr a' Bhealaich Dheirg and Sàileag, descending steeply at the Bealach an Lapain. Around 14km with 1500m of cumulative ascent for the three Munros — usually with transport arranged at the far end.
Terrain
The old military road from Cluanie is firm underfoot, but the pull onto the ridge is steep grass without much of a path. Above 900m the crest is a slim line of turf and broken rock, with one or two short scrambly steps. The Sgurr nan Spainteach summit is a small rocky top. The connecting ridge between the three Brothers is sustained airy walking. The descent off Sàileag at the Bealach an Lapain is steep grass to the A87.
In winter
A serious Brothers of Kintail winter traverse. The narrow ridges develop continuous cornicing on the north side. The descent off Bealach an Lapain becomes hard névé in winter. East-facing slopes wind-load with snow during westerly storms. The A87 corridor remains gritted; Cluanie sits in a notorious snow trap. No phone reception on the crest; the relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 2m
- Edinburgh4h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: Zero signal above 700m in Kintail. The Cluanie Inn area has reasonable coverage. Line maps up before departing the main road.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:01
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 04:05
- Civil dusk
- 22:50
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Aonach Meadhoin.
Around Aonach Meadhoin on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Aonach Meadhoin — common questions
- What difficulty is Aonach Meadhoin?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Aonach Meadhoin comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 881m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The old military road from Cluanie is firm underfoot, but the pull onto the ridge is steep grass without much of a path.
- How much drop does Aonach Meadhoin have?
- The drop is 174m: measured from the summit of Aonach Meadhoin down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Aonach Meadhoin?
- Park at NH077117. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Aonach Meadhoin?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Aonach Meadhoin. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Aonach Meadhoin?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Aonach Meadhoin?
- Zero signal above 700m in Kintail. The Cluanie Inn area has reasonable coverage. Line maps up before departing the main road.
- Is Aonach Meadhoin safe in winter?
- A serious Brothers of Kintail winter traverse. The narrow ridges develop continuous cornicing on the north side. The descent off Bealach an Lapain becomes hard névé in winter. East-facing slopes wind-load with snow during westerly storms. The A87 corridor remains gritted; Cluanie sits in a notorious snow trap. No phone reception on the crest; the relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
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