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The stony dome of Maol Chean-dearg, its boulders dusted with snow.
Torridon

Maol Chean-dearg

A Munro of 933 metres, number 245 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Maol Chean-dearg rises above Coire Fionnaraich on the north side of Glen Carron, among what the Mountain Bothies Association calls "the peaks of the Coulin Forest".

Sgorr Ruadh is about three and a half kilometres to the east, with Beinn Liath Mhor a little beyond it.

The association keeps a bothy in the corrie, on Fionnaraich Estate ground, and an old right of way passes it on the way over the Bealach na Lice to Torridon. Two lochs lie around the hill, Loch Coire an Ruadh-staic and Loch an Eoin.

Starts from
Coulags, on the A890 in Glen Carron, where a right of way runs up Coire Fionnaraich past the bothy and on over to Torridon.
How far
The Lochcarron walks guide gives the way in stages: 3 km to the bothy, 1 km more to a path junction, then 2 km up a stalking path to a pass at 587 metres. From there the summit is up a broad rocky ridge; allow 1½ hours there and back.
The bothy
Coire Fionnaraich bothy, kept by the Mountain Bothies Association on Fionnaraich Estate ground, is closed from 20 September to 20 October for stag stalking. The bothy code is plain that bothies are used entirely at your own risk.
Stalking and dogs
The same guide says to avoid the round of the hill in the deer stalking season, in September and October. Dogs must be kept strictly on a lead on the walk up to the bothy, where sheep graze. Follow any signs.
Under snow
The nearest forecast area of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service is Torridon. Its description does not name Maol Chean-dearg, and it may not forecast for this hill. Full forecasting begins on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NG 924 499
Parking
There is a car parking area just over the bridge, close to the start of the public footpath to the bothy. The Mountain Bothies Association asks that nobody parks on the intake or the entrance to the locked gate. There is also a lay-by just west of Coulags Bridge.
On the hill today
1° to 4°Rain on the summit, 933 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.

West wind to 13 mph, gusting 26
Rain, about 7 mm
Light from 7.57am to 6.17pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud0° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 15
Sun 18Cloudy−2° to 5° on top · 15 mph, gusts 29
Mon 19Cloudy−4° to 6° on top · 5 mph, gusts 7

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, Maol Chean-dearg, Northwest Highlands mountain forecast, 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.

Photograph by John Irvine, via Google

Photographs by Mick Knapton at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) and Graham Lewis (CC BY 2.0)

Bothy closed 20th September to 20th October for stag stalking.Mountain Bothies Association, which keeps the Coire Fionnaraich bothy, on the path below the hill
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 NG 924 499
  • 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: Sgorr Ruadh, Beinn Liath Mhor, Liathach - Mullach an Rathain, Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are the Mountain Bothies Association's and the Lochcarron and District Business 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.