Munro · Far North
Conival
Conival (987m) — "hill of the meetings" — is the westernmost Munro in Sutherland, paired with Ben More Assynt across one of the most distinctive quartzite-block ridges in Scotland. The hill sits directly above Inchnadamph and the limestone caves of the Allt nan Uamh — geologically unique country where the Moine Thrust brings ancient gneiss over younger limestone. Conival is reached on the same day as Ben More Assynt by every party.
Quick facts
- Height
- 987.6m/ 3240ft
- Prominence
- 102 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 869 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NC303199
- Parking
- NC252217
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 83km
- 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 40% · Open hillside 35% · Summit ridge 25%
See Ben More Assynt for the shared route. Park at the Inchnadamph Hotel and follow the path east up the Traligill river past the famous limestone caves. Climb the steep western flank of Conival directly to the summit shelter, then turn east along the quartzite-block ridge to Ben More Assynt — the technical interest of the day. Around 16km return with 1100m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
Past the Inchnadamph caves the Traligill path is restored stone pitching in good condition. Above it the pull onto Conival is rough scree and quartzite blocks — steep, tiring work on the upper slopes. The summit has a small stone shelter. The bouldery connecting ridge east to Ben More Assynt is the notorious technical section — slow, ankle-twisting, and tiring. The descent reverses the line.
In winter
A serious far-north winter day. Sutherland's short midwinter daylight (under 7 hours) makes early starts essential. Conival's summit ridge gathers wind-blown snow; the quartzite blockfield linking to Ben More Assynt becomes a Grade I/II winter scramble. The A837 at Inchnadamph stays reliably gritted. Mobile reception absent on the hill. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 55m
- Edinburgh5h 4m
OS maps: OS Landranger 15
Mobile signal: Very limited signal at Inchnadamph. No signal on approach or summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:53
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:54
- Civil dusk
- 22:59
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Conival.
Around Conival on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Conival — common questions
- What difficulty is Conival?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Conival comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 869m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Terrain: Past the Inchnadamph caves the Traligill path is restored stone pitching in good condition.
- How prominent is Conival?
- Conival has 102m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Conival?
- Standard parking is at NC252217 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Conival?
- The standard good-weather months for Conival 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 Conival?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Conival?
- Very limited signal at Inchnadamph. No signal on approach or summit.
- Is Conival safe in winter?
- A serious far-north winter day. Sutherland's short midwinter daylight (under 7 hours) makes early starts essential. Conival's summit ridge gathers wind-blown snow; the quartzite blockfield linking to Ben More Assynt becomes a Grade I/II winter scramble. The A837 at Inchnadamph stays reliably gritted. Mobile reception absent on the hill. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast.
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