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
- Prominence
- 80 m
- Grid ref
- NH087077
- Parking
- NH077117
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 34km
- 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
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.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 54m
- Edinburgh3h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No coverage 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
- 06:34
- Sunset
- 20:03
- Civil dawn
- 05:54
- Civil dusk
- 20:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 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
- Is Creag a' Mhaim a hard climb?
- Creag a' Mhaim is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: 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.
- How much drop does Creag a' Mhaim have?
- The drop is 80m: measured from the summit of Creag a' Mhaim down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Creag a' Mhaim?
- Park at NH077117. 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Creag a' Mhaim. 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- 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 Creag a' Mhaim?
- No coverage 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.
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