Munro · North-West Highlands
Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais
Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais — "peak of the grey corrie" — is the 1083m Munro at the centre of the Strathfarrar four-Munro ridge, the highest hill north of Glen Affric. With 819m of prominence it dominates the long Strathfarrar watershed. The summit is a large cairn on a narrow rocky crest with views in every direction across the empty Northern Highlands. Access to Glen Strathfarrar is regulated by a locked gate (permits or limited daily access via the Forestry Land gate).
Gaelic: “sharp peak, of the, corrie” · Pronunciation: skoor uh chor-a ghlais
Quick facts
- Height
- 1083.7m/ 3555ft
- Prominence
- 819 m
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 954 m
- Time
- 7–10 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH258430
- Parking
- NH235385
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 41km
- 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
Glen track / cycle 35% · Open hillside 35% · Summit ridge 30%
Most parties tackle the full Strathfarrar four — Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais, Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Sgurr na Ruaidhe, Carn nan Gobhar — in one long traverse from the upper Strathfarrar road. From the East Monar lay-by, climb Sgurr na Ruaidhe first then traverse west over the ridge. Around 18-22km with 1500m of cumulative ascent. The 18km/954m figures relate to Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais alone.
Terrain
The Strathfarrar road is single-track and gated. The hill paths from the road are intermittent at best; the long Strathfarrar ridge is short grass and rocky outcrops with broad walking between tops. The summit of Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais is a small rocky crest; the large cairn marks the top clearly. No exposure on the standard ridge line.
In winter
A long winter ridge in remote country. The Strathfarrar gate access can be unreliable in winter — check Forestry Land Scotland for opening times. Cornicing on the north sides of all four Strathfarrar summits is consistent. Phone signal absent throughout. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 28m
- Edinburgh4h 46m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: No signal in Strathfarrar. The locked gate means a bicycle approach from Strathmore is needed — download maps before setting off. No coverage in the glen.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:58
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 04:01
- Civil dusk
- 22:51
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais.
Around Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
33km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
41km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
28km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais — common questions
- Is Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais a hard climb?
- Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 954m of ascent and takes most walkers 7-10 hours. Ground conditions: The Strathfarrar road is single-track and gated.
- How much drop does Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais have?
- The drop is 819m: measured from the summit of Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais?
- Park at NH235385. 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 Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais. 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 Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais?
- 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 Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais?
- No signal in Strathfarrar. The locked gate means a bicycle approach from Strathmore is needed — download maps before setting off. No coverage in the glen.
- Is Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais safe in winter?
- A long winter ridge in remote country. The Strathfarrar gate access can be unreliable in winter — check Forestry Land Scotland for opening times. Cornicing on the north sides of all four Strathfarrar summits is consistent. Phone signal absent throughout. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
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