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Meall nan Ceapraichean dusted with snow under low cloud, across a moor with melting drifts.
Ullapool, Ben Wyvis and the far north

Meall nan Ceapraichean

A Munro of 977 metres, number 178 of the 282.

Photograph by Ted and Jen (CC BY 2.0)

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Meall nan Ceapraichean stands in the hills between Loch Broom and Strath Oykel, near Ullapool, with a Munro on three sides of it.

Beinn Dearg, much the highest of the group, is under a kilometre and a half to the south, and Eididh nan Clach Geala is a little further off to the north. Cona' Mheall, about two kilometres to the south-east, is taller than Meall nan Ceapraichean by a single metre.

Deer stalking
Deer are stalked in this country. Read Mountaineering Scotland's page, linked below, and follow any signs on the day.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, and no forecast does not mean no risk. Forecasting elsewhere begins on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NH 257 825
Inverlael car park
Forestry and Land Scotland keeps a car park at Inverlael, on the A835 about 6 miles south of Ullapool, for the popular path up Ben Dearg, the neighbouring Munro. Nearest postcode IV23 2RG. Parking is free.
Vans
A height barrier makes the car park unsuitable for vans.
Toilets and food
No toilets are listed at the car park. Ullapool has places to eat and public toilets.
On the hill today
0° to 2°Drizzle on the summit, 977 m. Feels like −5° in the wind.

West wind to 16 mph, gusting 31
Rain, about 7 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy0° to 3° on top · 9 mph, gusts 17
Sun 18Cloudy−3° to 4° on top · 10 mph, gusts 19
Mon 19Cloudy−3° to 6° on top · 6 mph, gusts 11

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, Meall nan Ceapraichean, Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

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 Ted and Jen (CC BY 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 NH 257 825
  • 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: Beinn Dearg, Eididh nan Clach Geala, Cona' Mheall, Am Faochagach. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Forestry and Land Scotland's, Mountaineering Scotland's and Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team'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.