Munro · North-West Highlands
Sgurr na Ruaidhe
Sgùrr na Ruaidhe (993m) — "the reddish peak" — is the easternmost of the four Strathfarrar Munros on the long ridge that walls in the north side of Glen Strathfarrar. It is a broad whaleback summit, usually reached as the final Munro on a west-to-east traverse of the ridge from Loch a' Mhuilidh. Access through the locked gate at Struy is regulated by the estate; check times before you go.
Quick facts
- Height
- 993m/ 3258ft
- Prominence
- 226 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 874 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH289426
- Parking
- NH245418
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 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
Glen road / cycle 30% · Open hillside 40% · Ridge walk 30%
See Sgùrr Fhuar-thuill for the full four-Munro Strathfarrar ridge traverse. Sgùrr na Ruaidhe is the final summit going west to east, reached over the broad ridge from Càrn nan Gobhar. Descend the long east ridge directly to the Glen Strathfarrar road and walk back along the glen to the parking area. Around 23km with 1500m of ascent for the full traverse. Sgùrr na Ruaidhe alone via its east ridge is around 9km return with 870m of climb.
Terrain
The east ridge of Sgùrr na Ruaidhe is broad heathery hillside with a faint braided path. Higher up the surface becomes short grass and mossy turf — easy walking on the broad whaleback summit. The summit area carries a large cairn. The descent line back to the glen road is sustained but gentle. The Glen Strathfarrar road itself is private and gated — check access times with the estate before driving in.
In winter
A relatively benign Strathfarrar winter Munro by Northern Highlands standards. The east ridge is exposed to easterly weather and holds drifted snow. The summit area lacks features for whiteout navigation. The Strathfarrar locked gate access can be unpredictable in winter — check with the estate. There is no mobile reception throughout the glen. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast area.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 27m
- Edinburgh4h 44m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: No signal in Strathfarrar. Save maps before the gate. The entire glen and ridge are without coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:58
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 04:01
- Civil dusk
- 22:51
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr na Ruaidhe.
Around Sgurr na Ruaidhe on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
38km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr na Ruaidhe — common questions
- How difficult is Sgurr na Ruaidhe?
- Sgurr na Ruaidhe carries a 5/5 (very challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 874m of ascent and a 6-9 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The east ridge of Sgùrr na Ruaidhe is broad heathery hillside with a faint braided path.
- How prominent is Sgurr na Ruaidhe?
- Sgurr na Ruaidhe has 226m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Sgurr na Ruaidhe?
- Standard parking is at NH245418. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Sgurr na Ruaidhe?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr na Ruaidhe 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 na Ruaidhe?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Sgurr na Ruaidhe?
- No signal in Strathfarrar. Save maps before the gate. The entire glen and ridge are without coverage.
- Is Sgurr na Ruaidhe safe in winter?
- A relatively benign Strathfarrar winter Munro by Northern Highlands standards. The east ridge is exposed to easterly weather and holds drifted snow. The summit area lacks features for whiteout navigation. The Strathfarrar locked gate access can be unpredictable in winter — check with the estate. There is no mobile reception throughout the glen. SAIS Northern Highlands is the relevant forecast area.
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