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
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 809 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN025995
- Parking
- NN071992
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- 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
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. Download maps before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:30
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:25
- Civil dusk
- 23:15
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 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
- How hard is Gairich?
- 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. Terrain: The dam approach path is wet and indistinct across rough moor for 3km.
- Where do I park for Gairich?
- Standard parking is at NN071992 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 Gairich?
- The standard good-weather months for Gairich 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 Gairich?
- 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 Gairich?
- No signal anywhere on the Gairich peninsula. The Kinloch Hourn road has no coverage from Tomdoun onwards. Download maps before setting off.
- 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.