Munro · Kintail
Gairich
Gairich (919m) — "roaring hill" — is the conspicuous isolated peak that dominates the south side of Loch Quoich, a steep-sided pyramid visible for miles up Glen Garry. The summit is a small cairn at the end of a long airy ridge with deep loch on one flank and Glen Kingie on the other. Climbed alone from the Loch Quoich dam — no easy partners exist.
Quick facts
- Height
- 918.8m/ 3014ft
- Prominence
- 552 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 809 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN025995
- Parking
- NN071992
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 27km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Dam track 25% · Open ridge 45% · Summit 30%
Park at the small lay-by just east of the Loch Quoich dam on the dead-end road from Tomdoun. Cross the dam and follow the boggy stalkers' path south-west across moorland and boggy bealach to gain the long east ridge of Gairich. Climb the increasingly narrow ridge over a couple of rocky steps to the summit. Around 17km return with 850m of ascent.
Terrain
The dam approach path is wet and indistinct across rough moor for 3km. Above the bealach the east ridge becomes a fine narrow stony crest with one short rocky step near the top. The summit area is a small cairn on a sharp ridge — exposed in wind.
In winter
A serious solo winter peak. The narrow east ridge ices reliably and small cornices form on the south side. SAIS Lochaber forecasts cover the area. The Tomdoun-Quoich road is single-track and rarely gritted; the dam parking area can be snow-bound for days. Phone reception is non-existent across the entire approach.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 6m
- Edinburgh3h 23m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No signal anywhere on the Gairich peninsula. The Kinloch Hourn road has no coverage from Tomdoun onwards. Get maps saved before heading out.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Gairich.
Around Gairich on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Glenfinnan station
Glenfinnan Viaduct; Streap, Sgurr Thuilm, Glen Finnan Munros
22km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
27km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Gairich — common questions
- Is Gairich a hard climb?
- Gairich is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 809m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Ground conditions: The dam approach path is wet and indistinct across rough moor for 3km.
- How much drop does Gairich have?
- The drop is 552m: measured from the summit of Gairich down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Gairich?
- Park at NN071992. 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 Gairich?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Gairich. 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 Gairich?
- 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 Gairich?
- No signal anywhere on the Gairich peninsula. The Kinloch Hourn road has no coverage from Tomdoun onwards. Get maps saved before heading out.
- Is Gairich safe in winter?
- A serious solo winter peak. The narrow east ridge ices reliably and small cornices form on the south side. SAIS Lochaber forecasts cover the area. The Tomdoun-Quoich road is single-track and rarely gritted; the dam parking area can be snow-bound for days. Phone reception is non-existent across the entire approach.
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.