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
- 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 ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
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
- 04:19
- Sunset
- 22:17
- Civil dawn
- 03:07
- Civil dusk
- 23:29
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 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
- How hard is Conival?
- Conival is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 869m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: Past the Inchnadamph caves the Traligill path is restored stone pitching in good condition.
- Where do I park for 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 is the best time to 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?
- 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 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.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.