Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The Fannichs and Strathcarron

An Coileachan

A Munro of 924 metres, number 266 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

An Coileachan stands at the south-eastern end of the Fannichs, a range of the Northwest Highlands.

Its nearest neighbour is Meall Gorm, about two and a half kilometres to the north-west.

Further along the range in the same direction is Sgurr Mor, a little over five kilometres off. The Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team gives its name as the Big Peak, counts it among the highest in Northern Scotland, and describes the Fannichs as a cluster of 12 peaks.

The hills stand on several private estates, and Lochluichart Estate, one of them, speaks of the Fannich Hills as a special area of conservation.

The ground
The Fannichs lie on private estates where deer are stalked. Follow any signs on the day.
Under snow
The Fannichs count only among the more outlying mountains of the Torridon avalanche forecast: its forecasters apply to them what they learn in the core of that area. Forecasts begin on 17 December 2026, and no forecast does not mean no risk.
Summit
Grid reference NH 241 680
Bothy
There is no Mountain Bothies Association bothy in the Fannichs.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Rain on the summit, 924 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

West wind to 16 mph, gusting 29
Rain, about 7 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy0° to 4° on top · 9 mph, gusts 17
Sun 18Cloudy−2° to 4° on top · 16 mph, gusts 30
Mon 19Cloudy−3° to 6° on top · 4 mph, gusts 9

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: The Northwest Highlands forecast, An Coileachan, Torridon avalanche forecast.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NH 241 680
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

Nobody has written from An Coileachan yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

Tell the next person

Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.

Sign in to tell them
From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Next along: Meall Gorm, Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich, Sgurr Mor, Sgurr nan Each. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team's, the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's and the Mountain Bothies Association's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.