Munro · North-West Highlands
Meall nan Ceapraichean
Meall nan Ceapraichean (977m) — "hill of the small caps" — is the central Munro of the Beinn Dearg group above Inverlael, sitting between Beinn Dearg to the south and Eididh nan Clach Geala to the north. The hill is the natural linking summit on the long round of the Beinn Dearg four-Munro group, with views across the Coire Lair to Seana Bhraigh and out into the wild Inverlael deer forest country.
Quick facts
- Height
- 976.8m/ 3205ft
- Prominence
- 127 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 860 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH257825
- Parking
- NH183852
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 55km
- 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
Forest track 30% · Open hillside 40% · Summit plateau 30%
See Cona' Mheall for the standard Inverlael approach. From the col between Cona' Mheall and Beinn Dearg, climb Beinn Dearg, then traverse north along the broad ridge to Meall nan Ceapraichean. Most parties push further north onto Eididh nan Clach Geala for a four-Munro circuit. The full four-Munro round runs about 24km with 1500m of ascent; via Cona' Mheall alone, Ceapraichean is around 21km with 1200m of climb.
Terrain
The summit area of Meall nan Ceapraichean is a broad mossy plateau with a small cairn on a rocky outcrop. The connecting ridges to Beinn Dearg (south) and Eididh nan Clach Geala (north) are broad mossy turf with rocky sections. The famous Beinn Dearg drystane wall, running east–west across the plateau, gives a reliable handrail in poor visibility. The whole Beinn Dearg group is genuine Northern Highlands wilderness once you leave the approach path.
In winter
A long Inverlael winter day. The broad mossy summit drifts heavily and the navigation across the connecting ridges in cloud is a real challenge. The Beinn Dearg "Garbh Choire wall" is the most useful navigation feature. Persistent cornicing rings the corrie tops. The relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands; mobile reception is absent throughout the day.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 13m
- Edinburgh4h 27m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20
Mobile signal: Barely anything above 700m. Have maps ready before starting out — Inverlael car park has no coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:56
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 03:57
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall nan Ceapraichean.
Around Meall nan Ceapraichean on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Meall nan Ceapraichean — common questions
- What difficulty is Meall nan Ceapraichean?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall nan Ceapraichean comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 860m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The summit area of Meall nan Ceapraichean is a broad mossy plateau with a small cairn on a rocky outcrop.
- How much drop does Meall nan Ceapraichean have?
- The drop is 127m: measured from the summit of Meall nan Ceapraichean down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Meall nan Ceapraichean?
- Park at NH183852 near Ullapool. 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 Meall nan Ceapraichean?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Meall nan Ceapraichean. 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 Meall nan Ceapraichean?
- 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 Meall nan Ceapraichean?
- Barely anything above 700m. Have maps ready before starting out — Inverlael car park has no coverage.
- Is Meall nan Ceapraichean safe in winter?
- A long Inverlael winter day. The broad mossy summit drifts heavily and the navigation across the connecting ridges in cloud is a real challenge. The Beinn Dearg "Garbh Choire wall" is the most useful navigation feature. Persistent cornicing rings the corrie tops. The relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands; mobile reception is absent throughout the day.
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