Munro · Skye & The Small Isles
Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh
Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh (973m) — "peak of torment" — is a fine twin-topped Cuillin Munro on the central section of the main Cuillin ridge between Sgùrr na Banachdich and Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich. The summit ridge is one of the longest sustained narrow crests on the Cuillin — a continuous Grade 2/3 scramble between the two tops. Together with Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh to the north, the hill provides the central section of the celebrated Cuillin Ridge traverse.
Quick facts
- Height
- 972.1m/ 3189ft
- Prominence
- 123 m
- Distance
- ~10 km
- Ascent
- ~1450 m
- Time
- 6–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG445231
- Parking
- NG410205
- Nearest
- Fort William
- 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
Glenbrittle path 20% · Rocky corrie / hillside 35% · Ridge scramble 45%
Approach from the Glen Brittle Youth Hostel. Take the path north into Coire a' Ghreadaidh, then climb the steep boulder slopes onto the An Dorus col between Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh and Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh. Climb south along the narrow rocky ridge — sustained Grade 2/3 scrambling — to both summits of Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh. Most parties combine with Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh on the same day. Around 10km return with 1450m of ascent for the An Dorus pair.
Terrain
The lower Coire a' Ghreadaidh path is wet boggy moor, then turns to steep boulder ground climbing to the An Dorus col. The summit ridge between the two tops of Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh is sustained Grade 2/3 scrambling on excellent gabbro — exposed in places. Compass readings are unreliable on the Cuillin gabbro; carry GPS for navigation. The Cuillin in any conditions other than dry rock is treacherous.
In winter
A serious Cuillin winter mountaineering objective. The summit ridge climbs at Grade III–IV in winter conditions. The gabbro readily gathers verglas; midwinter daylight is brief and a forced retreat from the ridge is difficult. Very few parties attempt the central Cuillin in winter — almost all Cuillin Munroing happens in summer. Consult Cuillin-specific weather before committing.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 45m
- Edinburgh5h 30m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32
Mobile signal: No signal in the Cuillin above 500m. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable signal. Grab maps before heading out.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:38
- Sunset
- 20:08
- Civil dawn
- 05:58
- Civil dusk
- 20:48
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh.
Around Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
11km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh — common questions
- Is Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh a hard climb?
- Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 10km with 1450m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-8 hours. Ground conditions: The lower Coire a' Ghreadaidh path is wet boggy moor, then turns to steep boulder ground climbing to the An Dorus col.
- How much drop does Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh have?
- The drop is 123m: measured from the summit of Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh?
- Park at NG410205 near Fort William. 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' Ghreadaidh?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh. 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' Ghreadaidh?
- 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' Ghreadaidh?
- No signal in the Cuillin above 500m. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable signal. Grab maps before heading out.
- Is Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh safe in winter?
- A serious Cuillin winter mountaineering objective. The summit ridge climbs at Grade III–IV in winter conditions. The gabbro readily gathers verglas; midwinter daylight is brief and a forced retreat from the ridge is difficult. Very few parties attempt the central Cuillin in winter — almost all Cuillin Munroing happens in summer. Consult Cuillin-specific weather before committing.
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