Munro · Kintail
Sgurr an Lochain
Sgùrr an Lochain (1004m) — "peak of the small loch" — sits among the western summits of the South Glen Shiel ridge, named for the small lochan cradled in its north-facing corrie. The summit cone is the shapeliest on the western half of the ridge, a clearly defined point amid the otherwise rolling crest. The hill is almost always tackled as part of the full seven-Munro South Glen Shiel traverse, though direct ascents from the A87 are possible if brutally steep.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, the, small loch” · Pronunciation: skoor an loch-een
Quick facts
- Height
- 1004m/ 3294ft
- Prominence
- 123 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 884 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH005104
- Parking
- NH077117
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 38km
- 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
Steep hillside 40% · Ridge 45% · Summit area 15%
See Aonach air Chrith for the standard full South Glen Shiel ridge traverse. As a single Munro, Sgùrr an Lochain can be reached directly from the A87 via the steep, pathless north spur from below Loch Cluanie — around 7km return with 900m of unrelenting climb. The more pleasant approach is to include it in a half-ridge traverse from the Allt Coire Sgoireadail bealach. Most rewarding as part of the full seven-Munro round.
Terrain
Direct A87 approaches are sustained steep grass and broken rock with no real path. On the ridge the going is broad mossy turf with a more defined rocky cone at the Sgùrr an Lochain summit itself. The descent west to the bealach for Creag nan Damh is steep grass. The drop east to the Sgurr an Doire Leathain bealach is broad and easy. The small lochan in the north corrie is a distinctive feature visible from the summit.
In winter
A serious winter ridge Munro. The north corrie of Sgùrr an Lochain holds wind-loaded snow after southerly storms. Cornicing on the north edge of the summit is consistent. Once on the ridge the day becomes committing — bail-out means descending steep grass straight back to the A87. The A87 itself remains gritted. Reception drops away on the crest; the official forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 0m
- Edinburgh4h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: Nothing above 650m. Glen Shiel has occasional coverage. The western end of the ridge is more sheltered but still out of range.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:50
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr an Lochain.
Around Sgurr an Lochain on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr an Lochain — common questions
- What difficulty is Sgurr an Lochain?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr an Lochain comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 884m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Direct A87 approaches are sustained steep grass and broken rock with no real path.
- What is Sgurr an Lochain's prominence?
- 123m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Sgurr an Lochain to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Sgurr an Lochain?
- Most walkers start from NH077117. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr an Lochain?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Sgurr an Lochain. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Sgurr an Lochain dog-friendly?
- 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 Sgurr an Lochain?
- Nothing above 650m. Glen Shiel has occasional coverage. The western end of the ridge is more sheltered but still out of range.
- Is Sgurr an Lochain safe in winter?
- A serious winter ridge Munro. The north corrie of Sgùrr an Lochain holds wind-loaded snow after southerly storms. Cornicing on the north edge of the summit is consistent. Once on the ridge the day becomes committing — bail-out means descending steep grass straight back to the A87. The A87 itself remains gritted. Reception drops away on the crest; the official forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
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