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
- Prominence
- 957 m
- 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 ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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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. Barely anything above 400m on Liathach. This is a serious mountain — carry appropriate emergency gear.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:59
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 04:02
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 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
- Is Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith a hard climb?
- 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. Underfoot: The stalkers' path from the A896 is excellent restored pitching for 700m of climb.
- What is Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith's prominence?
- 957m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- Most walkers start from NG935566 near Ullapool. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith dog-friendly?
- 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. Barely anything 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.
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