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.

By Gary

Photo: Jim Barton / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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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
Difficulty: 5 / 5Expert
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%

17km · 881m ascent · 4.9 hrs

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.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Aonach Meadhoin. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 2m
Edinburgh4h 33m

Parking: NH077117

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

14h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:34
Sunset: 20:04
Civil dawn: 05:55
Civil dusk: 20:44

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Aonach Meadhoin.

Two-hill day
Aonach Meadhoin + Ciste Dhubh
Aonach Meadhoin and Ciste Dhubh are natural companions from Gleann Lichd — a fine two-Munro day in the quieter Kintail glens.
22km · 1400m ascent · 8 hrs

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Around Aonach Meadhoin on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Plockton station

Coastal Wester Ross; Plockton village; Skye Bridge approach

31km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Fort William

Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber

40km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

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.

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