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The grey quartzite ridge of Conival running up to its summit under low cloud, broken rock in front.
Ullapool, Ben Wyvis and the far north

Conival

A Munro of 988 metres, number 159 of the 282.

Photograph by Iain.Gillespie (CC BY 2.0)

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Conival, 987.6 metres, is one of Assynt's two Munros, above Inchnadamph.

Ben More Assynt, the other, is under a mile away.

Inchnadamph Lodge, the hostel at the foot, says the two are joined by "a ridge of shattered quartzite", and the Edinburgh Geological Society's guide puts Conival's east face at 400 metres high.

Starts from
Inchnadamph, on the A837. Take the way from the route description and the map.
What it asks
The Edinburgh Geological Society's guide calls the round of the two Munros a "strenuous excursion", for good weather only and for well-equipped, well-prepared parties.
Stalking
In the stalking season, July to November, the Geological Society's guide of 2015 advises contacting Assynt Estates before setting out. Follow any signs on the day.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill. No forecast does not mean no risk under snow. Assynt Mountain Rescue Team's advice: if conditions look bad, especially in winter, change your plans.
Summit
Grid reference NC 303 199.
Parking
The Geological Society's guide starts from the large public car park at the Inchnadamph Hotel. In 2026 the Highland Council's draft parking order listed parking at Inchnadamph without a charge.
Bus
There is no train. The Highland Council runs the Assynt dial-a-bus, a booked service on the A837: ask when you book whether it can serve Inchnadamph.
Toilets and food
Do not count on a toilet, a shop or fuel at the start: the Highland Council lists no public toilet at Inchnadamph. The nearest places of ours to eat are at Kylesku and Lochinver.
On the hill today
0° to 3°Drizzle on the summit, 988 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

West wind to 17 mph, gusting 30
Rain, about 6 mm
Light from 7.56am to 6.13pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy−1° to 3° on top · 11 mph, gusts 19
Sun 18Cloudy−1° to 5° on top · 10 mph, gusts 18
Mon 19Cloudy−1° to 5° on top · 8 mph, gusts 16

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, Conival.

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.

Cloud pouring over the dark slopes of Conival above the glen.

Photographs by Iain.Gillespie (CC BY 2.0) and don_macauley (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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 NC 303 199
  • 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 Conival 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.

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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: Ben More Assynt, Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con, Seana Bhraigh, Ben Hope. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are the Edinburgh Geological Society's, Inchnadamph Lodge's, the Highland Council's and Assynt Mountain Rescue Team's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office'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.