Munro · kintail
Creag a' Mhaim
Creag a' Mhaim (947m) — "rock of the rounded hill" — is the easternmost Munro of the celebrated South Glen Shiel ridge, the seven-Munro chain above the south side of Glen Shiel. The hill is a fine pointed summit with steep east and south flanks above the Allt Coire Sgoireadail. Almost always tackled as the first or last summit on the full seven-Munro ridge traverse from Cluanie Inn.
Quick facts
- Height
- 946.2m/ 3104ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 833 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH087077
- Parking
- NH077117
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Open hillside 45% · Ridge walk 40% · Summit 15%
See Aonach air Chrith for the full seven-Munro South Glen Shiel ridge traverse. As an eastern starter Munro, Creag a' Mhaim is reached from Cluanie Inn via the old military road south, then climbed via the steep east shoulder. From the summit the next Munro Druim Shionnach lies along the broad connecting ridge to the west. Creag a' Mhaim alone or with Druim Shionnach is around 11km with 1100m of ascent.
Terrain
The Cluanie old military road approach is firm; the climb onto Creag a' Mhaim's east shoulder is sustained steep grass without much of a path. The summit area is a small cairn perched on a flat top. The connecting ridge west to Druim Shionnach is broad mossy turf with rocky outcrops. The east face of Creag a' Mhaim drops abruptly into Coire Beinn na h-Eaglaise — keep clear in mist.
In winter
A serious South Glen Shiel ridge winter Munro. The east shoulder holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms; the summit cone develops cornicing on its north side. The A87 corridor at Cluanie stays gritted but the lay-by ices over. Phone signal absent on the ridge. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 54m
- Edinburgh3h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No signal above 600m. Cluanie Inn has reasonable signal. The eastern approach from Loch Cluanie dam has occasional coverage near the dam.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:29
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 23:15
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Creag a' Mhaim.
Around Creag a' Mhaim on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag a' Mhaim — common questions
- How hard is Creag a' Mhaim?
- Creag a' Mhaim is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 833m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Cluanie old military road approach is firm; the climb onto Creag a' Mhaim's east shoulder is sustained steep grass without much of a path.
- Where do I park for Creag a' Mhaim?
- Standard parking is at NH077117 near Fort William. 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- The standard good-weather months for Creag a' Mhaim are May, June, July, August, September, October. 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- No signal above 600m. Cluanie Inn has reasonable signal. The eastern approach from Loch Cluanie dam has occasional coverage near the dam.
- Is Creag a' Mhaim safe in winter?
- A serious South Glen Shiel ridge winter Munro. The east shoulder holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms; the summit cone develops cornicing on its north side. The A87 corridor at Cluanie stays gritted but the lay-by ices over. Phone signal absent on the ridge. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast.
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