What difficulty is Sgurr na Sgine?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr na Sgine comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 832m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Bealach Coire Mhalagain between The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgine is steep loose scree on both sides.

How much drop does Sgurr na Sgine have?

The drop is 247m: measured from the summit of Sgurr na Sgine down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Sgurr na Sgine?

Park at NG967143. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.

What's the best month to climb Sgurr na Sgine?

Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sgurr na Sgine. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.

Can dogs go up Sgurr na Sgine?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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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
Prominence: 247 m
Distance: ~16 km
Ascent: ~832 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NG946113
Parking: NG967143
Nearest city: Fort William· 41km
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 path 30% · Open hillside 35% · Rocky ridge / summit 35%

16km · 832m ascent · 4.6 hrs

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. Phone signal absent above 700m.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Sgurr na Sgine. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 4m
Edinburgh4h 39m

Parking: NG967143

OS maps: OS Landranger 33

Mobile signal: Dead above 700m in the Kintail area. The A87 near Shiel Bridge has occasional signal. Download maps before starting out.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:35
Sunset: 20:04
Civil dawn: 05:55
Civil dusk: 20:44

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Sgurr na Sgine.

Classic round
Sgurr na Sgine + The Saddle
Sgurr na Sgine and The Saddle from Shiel Bridge — the classic Kintail two-Munro day combining both hills above Glen Shiel.
16km · 1400m ascent · 8 hrs

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Around Sgurr na Sgine on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station

Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton

24km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Mallaig

Ferry port for Skye and the Small Isles; CWT finish supply

30km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Sgurr na Sgine — common questions

What difficulty is Sgurr na Sgine?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr na Sgine comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 832m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Bealach Coire Mhalagain between The Saddle and Sgùrr na Sgine is steep loose scree on both sides.
How much drop does Sgurr na Sgine have?: The drop is 247m: measured from the summit of Sgurr na Sgine down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Sgurr na Sgine?: Park at NG967143. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
What's the best month to climb Sgurr na Sgine?: Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Sgurr na Sgine. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
Can dogs go up Sgurr na Sgine?: Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
Will I get phone signal on Sgurr na Sgine?: Dead above 700m in the Kintail area. The A87 near Shiel Bridge has occasional signal. Download maps before starting out.
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. Phone signal absent above 700m.

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