Munro · North-West Highlands
Cona' Mheall
Cona' Mheall (978m) — "the joined hill" — is the eastern Munro of the Beinn Dearg group above the Inverlael Forest, paired with Beinn Dearg itself across a steep narrow connecting ridge above Coire Ghranda. The hill stands above the magnificent Loch a' Choire Ghranda — a spectacular dark glacial loch hemmed in by sandstone cliffs. Almost always climbed alongside Beinn Dearg (and often Meall nan Ceapraichean) on a Northern Highlands round.
Quick facts
- Height
- 977.8m/ 3208ft
- Prominence
- 165 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 860 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH275816
- Parking
- NH183852
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 53km
- 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
Forest track / glen path 35% · Open hillside 35% · Ridge 30%
Park at Inverlael on the A835 south-east of Ullapool. Walk south-east up the well-built forestry path through the Inverlael plantations, then climb east into the great cirque of Coire Ghranda below the cliffs. From the loch climb the steep north ridge of Cona' Mheall directly to the summit. Most parties continue west across the narrow connecting ridge to Beinn Dearg. The pair total approximately 19km with 1100m of climb.
Terrain
The Inverlael forestry path is firm well-built track for the long approach. The climb into Coire Ghranda is rough boggy ground. The north ridge of Cona' Mheall is sustained steep grass and broken rock. The summit is a small cairn on a rocky outcrop. The connecting ridge west to Beinn Dearg is narrow with one rocky step and the famous "Garbh Choire" wall — keep clear of the south edge in mist. The south-east face holds substantial sandstone cliffs.
In winter
A serious far-north winter day. The Coire Ghranda headwall holds significant avalanche risk after westerly storms. The narrow connecting ridge to Beinn Dearg becomes a Grade I winter scramble with cornicing on both sides. The Beinn Dearg "Garbh Choire wall" — a long stone dyke crossing the high ground — is a useful navigation handrail in cloud. The A835 corridor at Inverlael stays gritted. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 12m
- Edinburgh4h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20
Mobile signal: Barely anything above 700m. Inverlael car park has no coverage. Save maps before departing Ullapool or Garve.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:56
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 03:57
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Cona' Mheall on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cona' Mheall — common questions
- How hard is Cona' Mheall?
- We grade Cona' Mheall at 5/5, which puts it in very challenging territory. The usual route is around 17km with 860m of climbing; allow 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Inverlael forestry path is firm well-built track for the long approach.
- How prominent is Cona' Mheall?
- Cona' Mheall has 165m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Cona' Mheall?
- Standard parking is at NH183852 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Cona' Mheall?
- The standard good-weather months for Cona' Mheall 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 Cona' Mheall?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Cona' Mheall?
- Barely anything above 700m. Inverlael car park has no coverage. Save maps before departing Ullapool or Garve.
- Is Cona' Mheall safe in winter?
- A serious far-north winter day. The Coire Ghranda headwall holds significant avalanche risk after westerly storms. The narrow connecting ridge to Beinn Dearg becomes a Grade I winter scramble with cornicing on both sides. The Beinn Dearg "Garbh Choire wall" — a long stone dyke crossing the high ground — is a useful navigation handrail in cloud. The A835 corridor at Inverlael stays gritted. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
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