Munro · Kintail
Spidean Mialach
Spidean Mialach (996m) — "summit of the wild beasts" — is the eastern half of the celebrated two-Munro round above Loch Quoich, paired with Gleouraich to the west. The hill is a broad rocky summit looking down on the long isolation of Loch Quoich and across to the Knoydart hills. Together with Gleouraich it makes one of the finest short west Highland rounds, using one of the best-engineered stalkers' paths in the country.
Quick facts
- Height
- 995.9m/ 3267ft
- Prominence
- 260 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 876 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH065043
- Parking
- NH030027
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 31km
- 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
Roadside start 15% · Steep hillside 40% · Rocky ridge 45%
See Gleouraich for the standard pair route. From Gleouraich, descend east along the broad connecting ridge over the Bealach a' Mhaim to Spidean Mialach. The summit has a low stone windshelter. Descend the long east ridge directly to the Loch Quoich road, returning west along the road to the starting layby — around 13km with 1300m of ascent for the full round.
Terrain
The Bealach a' Mhaim col is broad, damp and grassy. The connecting ridge to Spidean Mialach runs over short turf and broken rock with a few rocky outcrops. The Spidean Mialach summit area is broad with the low windshelter at the high point. The east ridge descent is sustained heathery hillside on the lower slopes; pathless return along the road to the start.
In winter
A serious west-coast winter day. The Loch Quoich road is among the more drift-prone roads in the area. The north corries of both Munros load with wind-driven snow under south-westerly weather. The east ridge of Spidean Mialach holds wind-blown snow. Phone reception is absent throughout. The relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 9m
- Edinburgh3h 23m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33
Mobile signal: Zero signal above 700m. The Loch Quoich road has no coverage. Download OS Landranger 33 before leaving Invergarry.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:01
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Spidean Mialach.
Around Spidean Mialach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Banavie station
Neptune's Staircase; alternate Fort William access; Great Glen Way
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Spidean Mialach — common questions
- How difficult is Spidean Mialach?
- Spidean Mialach carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 876m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The Bealach a' Mhaim col is broad, damp and grassy.
- How prominent is Spidean Mialach?
- Spidean Mialach has 260m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Spidean Mialach?
- Standard parking is at NH030027. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Spidean Mialach?
- The standard good-weather months for Spidean Mialach 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 Spidean Mialach?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Spidean Mialach?
- Zero signal above 700m. The Loch Quoich road has no coverage. Download OS Landranger 33 before leaving Invergarry.
- Is Spidean Mialach safe in winter?
- A serious west-coast winter day. The Loch Quoich road is among the more drift-prone roads in the area. The north corries of both Munros load with wind-driven snow under south-westerly weather. The east ridge of Spidean Mialach holds wind-blown snow. Phone reception is absent throughout. The relevant forecast is SAIS Northern Highlands.
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