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.
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
- 05:38
- Sunset
- 21:11
- Civil dawn
- 04:51
- Civil dusk
- 21:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 12 August 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.
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