Munro · North-West Highlands
Sgurr Breac
Sgùrr Breac (1000m) — "speckled peak" — is the western Munro of the western Fannaichs, sitting between An Teallach to the north and the main Fannaich range to the east. Together with its neighbour A' Chailleach it forms the western Fannaich pair, almost always climbed together. The hill is one of the better viewpoints in the Northern Highlands, looking out over Loch a' Bhraoin and across to the great sandstone walls of An Teallach.
Quick facts
- Height
- 999.6m/ 3280ft
- Prominence
- 451 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 880 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH158711
- Parking
- NH162759
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 57km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Path from Loch a' Bhraoin 30% · Open hillside 40% · Summit 30%
Park at the lay-by on the A832 east of Loch a' Bhraoin, just before the road descends to Braemore Junction. Take the stalkers' path south past Lochivraon to the foot of the western Fannaichs. Climb the steep north ridge of Sgùrr Breac directly to the summit cairn. Continue west along the broad connecting ridge to A' Chailleach, then descend the north shoulder back to the loch. Around 19km with 1100m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
The Loch a' Bhraoin stalkers' path is firm but boggy in places. The Lochivraon area can be flooded after heavy rain. The north ridge of Sgùrr Breac is sustained heathery hillside with a faint braided path. The summit cairn is a small slab perched at the high point of a broad area. The connecting ridge west to A' Chailleach is broad grass with some peat hags in the bealach.
In winter
A serious west Fannaich winter day. The Loch a' Bhraoin lochside path is sheltered. The north ridge climb accumulates wind-loaded snow during westerly weather. Both summits build persistent cornicing on their north flanks. The A832 corridor at Braemore stays gritted; no phone reception on the hill. Consult SAIS Northern Highlands for avalanche guidance.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 2m
- Edinburgh4h 20m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20
Mobile signal: Barely anything above 700m. Achnasheen has 4G. Sort maps before the run from Achnasheen or Garve.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:57
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 03:59
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr Breac.
Around Sgurr Breac on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr Breac — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr Breac?
- We grade Sgurr Breac at 5/5, which puts it in very challenging territory. The usual route is around 17km with 880m of climbing; allow 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Loch a' Bhraoin stalkers' path is firm but boggy in places.
- How prominent is Sgurr Breac?
- Sgurr Breac has 451m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Sgurr Breac?
- Standard parking is at NH162759 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Sgurr Breac?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr Breac are May, June, July, August, September. 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 Sgurr Breac?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Sgurr Breac?
- Barely anything above 700m. Achnasheen has 4G. Sort maps before the run from Achnasheen or Garve.
- Is Sgurr Breac safe in winter?
- A serious west Fannaich winter day. The Loch a' Bhraoin lochside path is sheltered. The north ridge climb accumulates wind-loaded snow during westerly weather. Both summits build persistent cornicing on their north flanks. The A832 corridor at Braemore stays gritted; no phone reception on the hill. Consult SAIS Northern Highlands for avalanche guidance.
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.