Munro · North-West Highlands
Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith
Spidean a' Choire Lèith (1054m) is the higher Munro on Liathach — "the grey one" — the tremendous Torridonian sandstone wall that rises straight from sea-level on the north side of Glen Torridon. The full Liathach traverse from west to east includes both Munros (Mullach an Rathain and Spidean a' Choire Lèith) and the famous Am Fasarinen pinnacles, a Grade 2/3 scramble that is one of the most exposed walking lines in Scotland. Together with An Teallach and the Skye Cuillin it is one of the great mountaineering objectives in the British Isles.
Gaelic: “pinnacle, of the, corrie, grey” · Pronunciation: liathach spidean uh chor-a leith
Quick facts
- Height
- 1054.8m/ 3461ft
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 928 m
- Time
- 6–10 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG929579
- Parking
- NG935566
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 75km
- 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
Path from glen 20% · Rocky ridge 40% · Pinnacles / scramble 40%
The standard ascent for Spidean alone starts from the small lay-by on the A896 below the Coire Liath an Eich Mhoir. Take the well-built stalkers' path that zigzags up the steep south face to the col on the main ridge, then turn east along the narrow crest to Spidean. The full traverse continues west over Am Fasarinen pinnacles to Mullach an Rathain — Grade 2/3 with a bypass path on the north side. Spidean-only is 8km with 1100m of ascent; the full ridge traverse is 13km with 1300m.
Terrain
The stalkers' path from the A896 is excellent restored pitching for 700m of climb. Above the path the ground turns to scree and bare sandstone slabs onto the summit crest. The ridge crest is narrow with sustained exposure — the south side drops 800m to Glen Torridon. The Am Fasarinen pinnacles to the west are bare sandstone scrambling at Grade 2/3; the bypass path on the north is a thin loose-scree ledge with significant exposure of its own.
In winter
A serious Scottish winter mountaineering objective. Spidean in full winter conditions is a Grade I/II mountaineering climb; the full traverse is Grade III. The narrow crest holds cornices on both sides depending on wind direction. Sandstone slabs glaze readily with verglas and offer little hold. The A896 corridor is gritted but Torridon is remote. Phone signal absent. SAIS Torridon applies during ratings season. Full alpine kit essential.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 55m
- Edinburgh4h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: Moderate signal at Torridon village. No signal above 400m on Liathach. This is a serious mountain — carry appropriate emergency gear.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:27
- Sunset
- 22:15
- Civil dawn
- 03:19
- Civil dusk
- 23:23
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith.
Around Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith — common questions
- How hard is Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 928m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-10 hours. Terrain: The stalkers' path from the A896 is excellent restored pitching for 700m of climb.
- Where do I park for Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- Standard parking is at NG935566 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 Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- The standard good-weather months for Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith 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 Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- 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 Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- Moderate signal at Torridon village. No signal above 400m on Liathach. This is a serious mountain — carry appropriate emergency gear.
- Is Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith safe in winter?
- A serious Scottish winter mountaineering objective. Spidean in full winter conditions is a Grade I/II mountaineering climb; the full traverse is Grade III. The narrow crest holds cornices on both sides depending on wind direction. Sandstone slabs glaze readily with verglas and offer little hold. The A896 corridor is gritted but Torridon is remote. Phone signal absent. SAIS Torridon applies during ratings season. Full alpine kit essential.
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.