Munro · Skye & The Small Isles
Sgurr Mhic Choinnich
Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich (948m) — "MacKenzie's peak", named after the great Skye mountain guide John Mackenzie — is one of the more technically demanding Cuillin Munros, sitting between Sgùrr Alasdair to the south and the Inaccessible Pinnacle to the north on the central Cuillin Ridge. The standard ascent involves the famous "King's Chimney" — a Grade 3 scramble or short Difficult-grade rock climb. Most parties tackle this with Sgùrr Alasdair on the same long Cuillin day.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, son of” · Pronunciation: skoor mhic choinnich
Quick facts
- Height
- 948.1m/ 3111ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 834 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG450210
- Parking
- NG410205
- Nearest
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glenbrittle path 20% · Rocky corrie 30% · Technical scramble 50%
Approach from Glenbrittle. Take the path north into Coire Lagan to the lochan in the upper corrie, then climb the steep slabby gabbro of An Stac slope onto the main ridge between Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich and the Inaccessible Pinnacle. From the col, the summit ridge of Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich is reached by either the King's Chimney (Difficult rock climb) or the bypass via the south-east ridge (Grade 3 scrambling). Around 11km return with 1100m of ascent — committing technical terrain throughout.
Terrain
The Coire Lagan path is rough boggy moor for the lower section, then steep slabby gabbro climbs to the upper corrie. The An Stac slope is loose scree on steep ground. The King's Chimney is sustained Grade 3 / Mod climbing on excellent gabbro. The summit ridge of Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich is narrow, with a rock 6m from the cairn marking the high point. Compasses become unreliable on Cuillin gabbro.
In winter
A serious technical Cuillin winter mountaineering route. Under winter the King's Chimney climbs at sustained Grade III/IV. Cuillin gabbro glazes readily with verglas; midwinter daylight is brief, and any winter ascent demands rope work and competent climbing technique. Sligachan and Glenbrittle have the only nearby services.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 42m
- Edinburgh4h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32
Mobile signal: No signal in the central Cuillin. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable coverage. Download maps and study the route before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:15
- Civil dawn
- 03:27
- Civil dusk
- 23:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr Mhic Choinnich.
Around Sgurr Mhic Choinnich 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
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr Mhic Choinnich — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr Mhic Choinnich?
- Sgurr Mhic Choinnich is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 834m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Coire Lagan path is rough boggy moor for the lower section, then steep slabby gabbro climbs to the upper corrie.
- Where do I park for Sgurr Mhic Choinnich?
- Standard parking is at NG410205 near Fort William. 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 Mhic Choinnich?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr Mhic Choinnich 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 Mhic Choinnich?
- 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 Mhic Choinnich?
- No signal in the central Cuillin. Glenbrittle campsite has reasonable coverage. Download maps and study the route before setting off.
- Is Sgurr Mhic Choinnich safe in winter?
- A serious technical Cuillin winter mountaineering route. Under winter the King's Chimney climbs at sustained Grade III/IV. Cuillin gabbro glazes readily with verglas; midwinter daylight is brief, and any winter ascent demands rope work and competent climbing technique. Sligachan and Glenbrittle have the only nearby services.
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