What difficulty is Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 9km and 750m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Vagastie approach crosses notoriously wet Flow Country peat moor — among the boggier Munro approaches in Scotland.

How much drop does Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con have?

The drop is 819m: measured from the summit of Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?

Park at NC541302 near Ullapool. 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 Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?

Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con. 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 Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

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Munro · Far North

Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con

Ben Klibreck (Meall nan Con, 962m) is one of only two Munros in the Sutherland Far North (with Ben Hope), standing alone on the edge of the great Flow Country peatlands south of Loch Naver. The hill is a long broad whaleback ridge — Meall nan Con is the high point at the south-west end of the ridge. The summit views span the vast emptiness of Sutherland: out to the north Atlantic, across to Ben Hope, and south over the lonely Flow Country.

Gaelic: “mountain, rounded hill, of the, dog” · Pronunciation: ben klibreck myowl nan kon

Quick facts

Height: 962.1m/ 3156ft
Prominence: 819 m
Distance: ~9 km
Ascent: ~750 m
Time: 6–9 hrs
Difficulty: 5 / 5Expert
Grid ref: NC585299
Parking: NC541302
Nearest: Ullapool· Inverness 85km
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

Moorland path 55% · Open hillside 30% · Summit area 15%

9km · 750m ascent · 3.1 hrs

Park at the small lay-by on the A836 at Vagastie, around 12km north of Crask Inn. Walk east across the rough peat moor to the Allt nan Albannach, then climb directly up the steep western flank of Ben Klibreck onto the broad summit ridge. Turn south-west along the ridge to the high point at Meall nan Con. Return reverses the line. Around 9km return with 750m of ascent.

Terrain

The Vagastie approach crosses notoriously wet Flow Country peat moor — among the boggier Munro approaches in Scotland. Above the moor the western flank of Ben Klibreck is sustained steep grass and broken rock. The summit ridge is broad mossy turf with a large rock marking the high point. Navigation across the broad summit area in cloud requires care.

In winter

A serious Sutherland winter day, with daylight in midwinter dropping to barely 7 hours — early starts are essential. The Vagastie peat approach can be drifted closed and the western flank holds wind-loaded snow. The A836 corridor stays gritted in normal conditions, though it can drift shut in heavy snow. There is no mobile reception on the hill.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con. 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

Glasgow5h 5m
Edinburgh5h 5m

Parking: NC541302

OS maps: OS Landranger 16

Mobile signal: Very limited signal. Lairg (20km south) has better coverage. Very remote Far North location.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 56mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:29
Sunset: 20:02
Civil dawn: 05:48
Civil dusk: 20:44

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

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Around Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Lairg station

Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland

25km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Durness

Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in

42km 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.

Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con — common questions

What difficulty is Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 9km and 750m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Vagastie approach crosses notoriously wet Flow Country peat moor — among the boggier Munro approaches in Scotland.
How much drop does Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con have?: The drop is 819m: measured from the summit of Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?: Park at NC541302 near Ullapool. 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 Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?: Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con. 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 Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?: 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 Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con?: Very limited signal. Lairg (20km south) has better coverage. Very remote Far North location.
Is Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con safe in winter?: A serious Sutherland winter day, with daylight in midwinter dropping to barely 7 hours — early starts are essential. The Vagastie peat approach can be drifted closed and the western flank holds wind-loaded snow. The A836 corridor stays gritted in normal conditions, though it can drift shut in heavy snow. There is no mobile reception on the hill.

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