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The top of the hill with pale screes down its left flank and small snow patches, seen along a grassy crest with a worn path.
Ben Nevis, the Mamores and the Grey Corries

Sgurr a' Mhaim

A Munro of 1,099 metres, number 51 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Sgurr a' Mhaim stands in the Mamores, the range above Glen Nevis.

At number 51 of the 282 Munros it is higher than any of its near neighbours: Am Bodach, Stob Ban, Stob Coire a' Chairn and An Gearanach all stand about two kilometres away.

Walkers know it for the Ring of Steall, which Mountaineering Scotland names alongside the Carn Mor Dearg Arete as one of Lochaber's celebrated routes.

Below it in Glen Nevis is the Steall gorge, which the John Muir Trust helps to look after.

Starts from
Upper Glen Nevis. For the way up, follow the route description and the map.
The Ring of Steall
Mountaineering Scotland runs a scrambling course for those who want to tackle routes such as the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and the Ring of Steall safely.
The land
The John Muir Trust keeps the Steall gorge path in the glen below, though this summit is not one of its own.
Scrambling
Mountaineering Scotland warns that scrambling grades are set for dry summer conditions, and that in anything less the same ground is likely to become much more difficult and dangerous.
Summit
Grid reference NN 164 667
Car park
The Highland Council's car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road had 18 spaces at the council's 2024 count. In May 2026 the council approved pay and display there, with no overnight parking between 10pm and 8am. The Lower Falls car park is further down the glen.
Bus
Shiel Buses' route 41 stops at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, lower down the glen, but at neither car park. High Life Highland calls it a limited summer service. Check the times with the operator.
Toilets and food
The Lower Falls car park has composting toilets, which the council lists as open through the winter. The nearest places to eat that we know are in Fort William.
On the hill today

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: West Highlands forecast, Sgùrr a' Mhàim, Lochaber 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.

Photographs by Briga Honda, Anonymus, JM- IH “Asdfghjkl11111” and Marta Pozaroszczyk, via Google

participants will develop the techniques and judgement required to safely tackle iconic routes such as the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and Ring of Steall in LochaberMountaineering Scotland, of its Improvers Scrambling Course
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 164 667
  • 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

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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: Am Bodach, Stob Ban, Stob Coire a' Chairn, An Gearanach. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Mountaineering Scotland's, the John Muir Trust's, the Highland Council's, Shiel Buses' and High Life Highland'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.