Munro · kintail
Sgurr na Sgine
Sgùrr na Sgine (946m) — "peak of the knife" — is the immediate south-eastern neighbour of The Saddle in Kintail, paired with that Munro across the Bealach Coire Mhalagain. The hill is most often climbed alongside The Saddle as part of a long Kintail day, with the Forcan Ridge on The Saddle providing the technical highlight and Sgùrr na Sgine giving a quieter follow-up summit.
Quick facts
- Height
- 946m/ 3104ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 832 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG946113
- Parking
- NG967143
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen path 30% · Open hillside 35% · Rocky ridge / summit 35%
See The Saddle for the standard approach from Achnangart on the A87. From The Saddle summit, descend the south-east ridge into the Bealach Coire Mhalagain, then climb the broad north ridge of Sgùrr na Sgine to the rocky summit outcrop. Most parties continue south-west over Faochag (Top) on the descent for a fine round back to the A87. Around 14km with 1300m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
The Bealach Coire Mhalagain between The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgine is steep loose scree on both sides. The north ridge of Sgùrr na Sgine is broad heathery hillside with rocky outcrops higher up. The summit outcrop is exposed with the rocky cairn perched at the high point. The descent over Faochag is steep grass on the south-west ridge.
In winter
A serious Kintail winter day. The Bealach Coire Mhalagain holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. The summit ridge of Sgùrr na Sgine develops cornicing on the east side. The Faochag descent is sustained steep grass that ices over. The A87 corridor stays gritted; SAIS Northern Highlands applies. Phone signal absent above 700m.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 4m
- Edinburgh4h 39m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: No signal above 700m in the Kintail area. The A87 near Shiel Bridge has occasional signal. Download maps before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:30
- Sunset
- 22:11
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 23:17
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr na Sgine.
Around Sgurr na Sgine on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr na Sgine — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr na Sgine?
- Sgurr na Sgine is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 832m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Bealach Coire Mhalagain between The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgine is steep loose scree on both sides.
- Where do I park for Sgurr na Sgine?
- Standard parking is at NG967143 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 na Sgine?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr na Sgine 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 na Sgine?
- 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 na Sgine?
- No signal above 700m in the Kintail area. The A87 near Shiel Bridge has occasional signal. Download maps before setting off.
- Is Sgurr na Sgine safe in winter?
- A serious Kintail winter day. The Bealach Coire Mhalagain holds avalanche-prone snow after westerly storms. The summit ridge of Sgùrr na Sgine develops cornicing on the east side. The Faochag descent is sustained steep grass that ices over. The A87 corridor stays gritted; SAIS Northern Highlands applies. Phone signal absent above 700m.
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