Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor Route Information

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Sgorr Ruadh & Beinn Liath Mhor

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1406 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

5.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

15.79 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

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A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Moderate route with rocky ascents and descents and unbridged stream to cross.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Achnashellach

At Achnashellach (A890) Commence route on path just W of the railway station.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,406 metres. Allow 5.5 hours to complete this 15.79 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start 150m W of Achnashellach Rail Station (off A890 road)
		NH00144840	Distance	Altitude 70 m

1	Ascend NW on path thorugh trees
		NG99414883	Distance 0.89 km	Altitude 120 m

2	Once clear of trees bear N by the River Lair
		NG99474931	Distance 0.52 km	Altitude 225 m

3	Continue NW by path on east bank or River Lair to branch in path
		NG99065015	Distance 0.96 km	Altitude 370 m

4	Head WSW on left branch path and ascend to Bealaich Mhoir
		NG96634937	Distance 3.17 km	Altitude 690 m

5	Head NNW across plateau to West of Loch Bhealaich Mhor
		NG96434993	Distance 0.63 km	Altitude 680 m

6	Ascend NW to summit of Sgorr Ruadh
		NG95945048	Distance 0.74 km	Altitude 962 m

7	Descend NW
		NG95335088	Distance 0.78 km	Altitude 775 m

8	Turn NE and descend to reach bealach
		NG95525125	Distance 0.62 km	Altitude 655 m

9	Continue NE over 769m top and a second bealach to start the ascent of Beinn Liath Mhor
		NG96025182	Distance 0.81 km	Altitude 785 m

10	Continue ENE to summit
		NG96435197	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 926 m

11	Start along ridge heading ENE
		NG96725200	Distance 0.30 km	Altitude 860 m

12	Follow summit ridge ESE to east top (876m)
		NG98325152	Distance 1.66 km	Altitude 876 m

13	Descend SE towards Drochaid Coire Lair
		NG98955106	Distance 0.86 km	Altitude 505 m

14	Descend SSE to join path
		NG99085048	Distance 0.64 km	Altitude 360 m

15	Head SW on path to rejoin approach route
		NH00144840	Distance 2.75 km	Altitude 70 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Liathach
by Metcheck

Images of Sgorr Ruadh & Beinn Liath Mhor

The ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor with snow-capped Sgurr na Chaorachain; April 1976.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh from Maol Cheann-dearg; April 1976.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

The northern cliffs of Sgorr Ruadh seen from the Coire Lair track.

Image by David S Brown

Beinn Liath Mhor above Loch Coire Lair. The summit is towards the left of the ridge. August 2010.

Image by David McSporran

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 8 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by David Harbottle on 04 Nov 2009:

The route between the two peaks requires careful navigation in misty conditions as it's relatively pathless, a bit complex, with a fair smattering of crags around.

Written by Scott Strathdee on 08 Jun 2009:

stunning views 6.5 hrs seems a bit fast

Written by Mike Watson on 05 Dec 2007:

Great route, esp on a blue sky day in winter with cracking views to Torridon. Anyway, we did the route in the opposite direction and easily avoided the burn crossing by retracing our steps on Sgorr Ruadh and then taking the path through Coire Lair.

Written by Julian Stark on 03 Jun 2006:

Has everything - lovely ridge walk - slight scramble - views to the 2nd best mountain area in the country - path pretty clear all the way. Save for a clear day - I know thats easier said than done - but do Moruisg/S nan C rather than waste these 2.

Written by George Morton on 03 Sep 2004:

Crossing the River Lair at 989502 could be very tricky after rain. Though the river was fairly low, I walked a fair distance upstream in a vain attempt to find stepping stones, before wading. An alternative might be to walk out via the west side of Loch Coire Lair, even if the terrain is tedious. A further sting in the tail comes just above Achnashellach Station for those inattentive enough to miss the narrow path leading off the forest track down to it. The track does not lead down to the main road and you have to retrace your steps.

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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