Munro · North-West Highlands
Sgurr Fhuar-thuill
Sgurr Fhuar-thuill (1049m) — "peak of the cold hollow" — is the westernmost Munro of the four-summit Strathfarrar ridge, the long sweep of hills that walls in Glen Strathfarrar to the north. The ridge runs east–west for 7km at over 950m and is one of the great Highland traverses, taking in Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais, Càrn nan Gobhar and Sgurr na Ruaidhe. The locked estate gate at Struy is managed by the landowners; verify timings well ahead.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1049.2m/ 3442ft
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 923 m
- Time
- 6–10 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH235437
- Parking
- NH245418
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen road / cycle 30% · Open hillside 35% · Ridge walk 35%
After clearing the locked gate at Struy, drive 17km up Glen Strathfarrar to the small parking area near Loch a' Mhuilidh. Climb steeply north onto Sgurr na Fearstaig (Top), then traverse east over Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, the deep bealach, and onto Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais, Càrn nan Gobhar and Sgurr na Ruaidhe. Return down the long east ridge of Sgurr na Ruaidhe and back along the glen road. Around 23km with 1500m of ascent for the full four-Munro round.
Terrain
The initial climb out of Glen Strathfarrar is steep heathery hillside with no clear path. Above 700m the ridge becomes a broad mossy crest, easy walking with rocky tops. Between Sgurr Fhuar-thuill and Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais the ridge narrows briefly with one short rocky step. The north face of Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais drops abruptly to Loch Toll a' Mhuic — keep clear of the corrie rim in mist. The descent off Sgurr na Ruaidhe is long pathless grass.
In winter
A serious winter ridge traverse. The Strathfarrar road through the locked gate is privately maintained and can be drifted closed even when the A831 outside is clear — check with the estate. All four summits develop consistent cornicing on their north flanks through the season. The north corries hold significant avalanche risk after south-westerly loading. Phone signal is absent. 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
- Glasgow4h 30m
- Edinburgh4h 48m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: No signal in Strathfarrar. Download maps before the gate — no coverage throughout the glen or on the ridge.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:25
- Sunset
- 22:12
- Civil dawn
- 03:18
- Civil dusk
- 23:19
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr Fhuar-thuill.
Around Sgurr Fhuar-thuill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr Fhuar-thuill — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr Fhuar-thuill?
- Sgurr Fhuar-thuill is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 923m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-10 hours. Terrain: The initial climb out of Glen Strathfarrar is steep heathery hillside with no clear path.
- Where do I park for Sgurr Fhuar-thuill?
- Standard parking is at NH245418 near Inverness. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr Fhuar-thuill?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr Fhuar-thuill are May, June, July, August, September, October. 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 Fhuar-thuill?
- 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 Fhuar-thuill?
- No signal in Strathfarrar. Download maps before the gate — no coverage throughout the glen or on the ridge.
- Is Sgurr Fhuar-thuill safe in winter?
- A serious winter ridge traverse. The Strathfarrar road through the locked gate is privately maintained and can be drifted closed even when the A831 outside is clear — check with the estate. All four summits develop consistent cornicing on their north flanks through the season. The north corries hold significant avalanche risk after south-westerly loading. Phone signal is absent. SAIS Northern Highlands applies.
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