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
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 847 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- 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%
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; SAIS does not formally cover the Far North.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 5m
- Edinburgh5h 5m
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
- Sunrise
- 04:51
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:51
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
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 17km and 847m 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; SAIS does not formally cover the Far North.
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