Munro · kintail
Beinn Sgritheall
Beinn Sgritheall (974m) — pronounced "skreel", "hill of the screes" — rises directly out of Loch Hourn on its south shore at Arnisdale, giving one of the most dramatic ascent profiles of any Scottish Munro: 900m of height gain in barely 2km of horizontal distance. The summit looks straight across Loch Hourn to Ladhar Bheinn in Knoydart, and west out to Skye. Despite the modest height, the position makes Beinn Sgritheall one of the great west-coast Munros.
Quick facts
- Height
- 974m/ 3196ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 857 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG835126
- Parking
- NG842118
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Steep village path 20% · Steep open hillside 45% · Summit ridge 35%
Drive the long single-track road from Shiel Bridge over the Bealach Ratagain pass to Arnisdale on the south shore of Loch Hourn (one of the most spectacular drives in Scotland). Park at the small lay-by west of Arnisdale, then climb the relentless north ridge directly — a sustained 900m climb on grass and broken rock. The summit cairn sits beside a small stone shelter. Return reverses the line. Around 7km return with 980m of ascent — short but punishing.
Terrain
The Arnisdale approach is sustained steep grass with a faint braided path; higher up the going turns to broken rock and short grass. The summit forms a small flat top with a cairn beside a stone shelter. The north face of Beinn Sgritheall is steep and broken — keep clear of the corrie rim in mist. The single-track road from Shiel Bridge over the Bealach Ratagain is one of the most spectacular drives in Scotland but slow.
In winter
A serious west-coast winter Munro. The 900m of relentless climb above Arnisdale is a sustained snow climb in winter conditions. The north corrie holds significant avalanche risk after westerly storms. The single-track road over the Bealach Ratagain can drift closed; the Glenelg ferry is summer only. Phone signal absent above 700m. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 11m
- Edinburgh4h 49m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No signal above 700m above Arnisdale. Glenelg has occasional 4G. Download maps before the drive along the single-track road from Shiel Bridge.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:30
- Sunset
- 22:12
- Civil dawn
- 03:25
- Civil dusk
- 23:17
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Sgritheall.
Around Beinn Sgritheall on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn Sgritheall — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Sgritheall?
- Beinn Sgritheall is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 857m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Arnisdale approach is sustained steep grass with a faint braided path; higher up the going turns to broken rock and short grass.
- Where do I park for Beinn Sgritheall?
- Standard parking is at NG842118 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Sgritheall?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Sgritheall are May, June, July, August, September. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Beinn Sgritheall?
- 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 Beinn Sgritheall?
- No signal above 700m above Arnisdale. Glenelg has occasional 4G. Download maps before the drive along the single-track road from Shiel Bridge.
- Is Beinn Sgritheall safe in winter?
- A serious west-coast winter Munro. The 900m of relentless climb above Arnisdale is a sustained snow climb in winter conditions. The north corrie holds significant avalanche risk after westerly storms. The single-track road over the Bealach Ratagain can drift closed; the Glenelg ferry is summer only. Phone signal absent above 700m. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
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