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Schiehallion's cone across Loch Rannoch, with white houses among the trees on the shore.
Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon

Schiehallion

A Munro of 1,083 metres, number 59 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Schiehallion stands on its own between Loch Rannoch and Loch Tay: a sharp cone from the west, a long whaleback from either side.

In 1774 the astronomer Nevil Maskelyne used the pull of its mass on a pendulum to weigh the Earth. The John Muir Trust has owned the east side, where the path runs, since 1999.

From the Braes of Foss car park a built path, kept up by the John Muir Trust, climbs to the rocky summit ridge. There the path ends, and the rest is a walk across rocks and boulders to the top. There are no waymarks on the hill.

Distance and time
6¼ miles there and back, and at least 5 hours.
Starts from
The Braes of Foss car park, below the east end of the hill
Under snow
No avalanche forecast is issued for Schiehallion. The service forecasts for six other areas, which does not mean there is no risk here under snow.
Summit
Grid reference NN 713 547
Car park
Braes of Foss, nearest postcode PH16 5NN. £3 for the day by coins, card or RingGo; free with a Blue Badge.
When it is full
An overflow car park lies 600 metres to the east. On a fine weekend, come early or have another plan.
Toilets and food
Do not count on toilets at the car park: none are promised open. The nearest shops and cafés are in Kinloch Rannoch and Aberfeldy.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 1,083 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

West wind to 12 mph, gusting 24
Dry, or nearly
Light from 7.50am to 6.13pm, ten hours

Sat 17Mostly clear−2° to 3° on top · 9 mph, gusts 19
Sun 18Clear−4° to 3° on top · 6 mph, gusts 12
Mon 19Drizzle−7° to 5° on top · 5 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: Southeastern Highlands forecast, Schiehallion.

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.

Photographs by Lynsey F. and Malcolm Findlay, via Google

There are no waymarkers on the hill. Come prepared to navigate safely.The John Muir Trust, which keeps the path
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 NN 713 547
  • 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 Schiehallion yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

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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: Carn Mairg, Meall na Aighean, Meall Garbh, Carn Gorm. Checked on 9 October 2026. The facts on this page are the John Muir Trust's and Forestry and Land Scotland'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.