Munro · Central Highlands
Sail Chaorainn
Sail Chaorainn (1002m) — "shoulder of the rowan tree" — is the northern Munro of the Conbhairean group above Glen Affric. The hill is paired with Sgùrr nan Conbhairean to the south and forms part of the long undulating ridge between Glen Affric and Glen Moriston. Sail Chaorainn is usually climbed as an extension of a Conbhairean day, with a long out-and-back along the broad connecting ridge.
Quick facts
- Height
- 999.2m/ 3278ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 879 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH133154
- Parking
- NH168103
- 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
Path from Cluanie 25% · Open hillside / ridge 45% · Summit 30%
Start from the lay-by on the A87 east of Loch Cluanie. Take the stalkers' path north up the Allt Carnach onto the south ridge of Sgùrr nan Conbhairean. From its summit, continue north along the broad ridge over Carn Ghluasaid (a third Munro), then north-east along the long undulating ridge to Sail Chaorainn. Return the same way. Around 21km with 1300m of cumulative ascent for the three-Munro round.
Terrain
The Allt Carnach stalkers' path is firm restored pitching for the lower section. Above the path the going is short grass and broken rock on the ridges. The connecting ridge from Sgùrr nan Conbhairean north to Sail Chaorainn is broad mossy turf with occasional rocky outcrops — easy walking but a long way to cover. The Sail Chaorainn summit is a rock rib at the high point of a broad area.
In winter
A long Cluanie winter day. The broad ridges drift heavily and the out-and-back to Sail Chaorainn from Sgùrr nan Conbhairean adds significant exposure in shortened daylight. Cornicing on the east edges of the ridges is consistent. The A87 at Cluanie stays gritted but the layby surface tends to ice. Mobile reception drops on the crest; the relevant forecast area is SAIS Northern Highlands.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 1m
- Edinburgh3h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 34
Mobile signal: No signal above 700m at Loch Cluanie. Cluanie Inn has 4G. Download maps before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:22
- Civil dusk
- 23:16
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sail Chaorainn.
On a long-distance route
Sail Chaorainn sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Sail Chaorainn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sail Chaorainn — common questions
- How hard is Sail Chaorainn?
- Sail Chaorainn is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 879m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Allt Carnach stalkers' path is firm restored pitching for the lower section.
- Where do I park for Sail Chaorainn?
- Standard parking is at NH168103 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 Sail Chaorainn?
- The standard good-weather months for Sail Chaorainn 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 Sail Chaorainn?
- 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 Sail Chaorainn?
- No signal above 700m at Loch Cluanie. Cluanie Inn has 4G. Download maps before setting off.
- Is Sail Chaorainn safe in winter?
- A long Cluanie winter day. The broad ridges drift heavily and the out-and-back to Sail Chaorainn from Sgùrr nan Conbhairean adds significant exposure in shortened daylight. Cornicing on the east edges of the ridges is consistent. The A87 at Cluanie stays gritted but the layby surface tends to ice. Mobile reception drops on the crest; the relevant forecast area is SAIS Northern Highlands.
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.