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The broad, stony ridge of An Riabhachan, late snow lying along its edge.
Glen Affric and Strathfarrar

An Riabhachan

A Munro of 1,129 metres, number 29 of the 282.

Photograph by John Irvine, via Google

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

An Riabhachan is one of four Munros that stand in a line along the north side of Loch Mullardoch, above Glen Cannich.

It is the second highest of the four, with Sgurr na Lapaich about three kilometres to the east and An Socach about three and a half to the south-west.

Loch Monar lies to the north, so the hill has a loch on either side.

Loch Mullardoch is a hydro loch: the dam at the head of Glen Cannich was built in 1952 and raised the water by 113 feet. The ground is sporting estate, and the deer management group for these glens counts more than a dozen Munros in its area and says access is welcomed.

Where it stands
North of Loch Mullardoch, whose dam is at the head of Glen Cannich. Mountaineering Scotland also counts it as one of two Munros south of Loch Monar, on its page for the private road up Glen Strathfarrar.
The ground
The Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group, whose ground runs down to Loch Mullardoch, describes its estates as privately owned and run mainly for sport. Its plan of 2016 puts this summit on East Benula North Estate, north of Loch Mullardoch. Its stalking note of 2016 gave stalking from August to 20 October, none on Sundays, and the main paths and ridges always open to walkers. That is ten years old. For what is current, read Mountaineering Scotland's deer stalking page, which says stag stalking can now take place at any time of year.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's full winter forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026.
The Strathfarrar gate
Mountaineering Scotland counts An Riabhachan among the hills reached from the private road up Glen Strathfarrar, to the north. In 2026, from about 1 April to the end of October, anyone may drive up that glen, through a gate kept by a gatekeeper and on a number of conditions. It is closed to vehicles all day on Tuesdays and until 1.30pm on Wednesdays. Otherwise the gate opens at 9am and closes at 6pm in April and October, 7pm in May and September and 8pm in June, July and August, and the last car goes in one hour before closing. No more than 25 vehicles are allowed in a day, and overnight parking is not allowed anywhere in Strathfarrar. The arrangement changes, so read Mountaineering Scotland's page on it before you travel.
Bus
Buses run all year from Inverness to Tomich and Cannich, and Traveline Scotland has the times.
Toilets and food
Cannich Hall, in the village where the Glen Cannich road begins, has public toilets, open 8am to 8pm every day from Easter through October. There are places to eat in Cannich and Tomich, and a shop in Cannich.
On the hill today
−1° to 2°Rain on the summit, 1,129 m. Feels like −6° in the wind.

West wind to 16 mph, gusting 35
Rain, about 6 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.16pm, ten hours

Sat 17Mostly clear−1° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 15
Sun 18Cloudy−4° to 3° on top · 9 mph, gusts 19
Mon 19Cloudy−5° to 5° on top · 6 mph, gusts 12

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Northwest Highlands forecast, An Riabhachan, Northwest Highlands mountain forecast, Deer stalking and hill access.

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.

A maximum of 25 vehicles are permitted in the glen on a given day.Mountaineering Scotland, of the summer arrangement at the gate of the private road up Glen Strathfarrar, on its page updated 26 March 2026
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 133 344
  • 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

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

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

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Sgurr na Lapaich, An Socach, Carn nan Gobhar, Beinn Fhionnlaidh. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Mountaineering Scotland's, the Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group's, Forestry and Land Scotland's and the Strathglass Heritage 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.