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The rocky peak of Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe at the end of its ridge, hazy hills beyond.
Glen Shiel and Kintail

Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe

A Munro of 1,027 metres, number 104 of the 282.

Photograph by Nick Bramhall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe is one of the Five Sisters of Kintail, the pointed peaks above Glen Shiel, and not to be confused with Ciste Dhubh on the other side of Kintail.

Its nearest neighbours are Sgurr na Carnach, about a kilometre to the north-west, and Sgurr Fhuaran, under two kilometres to the north. Kintail Mountain Rescue Team names Glen Shiel as the core of its area, with the Five Sisters on one side and The Saddle on the other.

Seen from the Ratagan Pass, the Five Sisters above the head of Loch Duich make one of the great views of the Highlands. The site of the Battle of Glen Shiel is about two kilometres from the summit.

The ground
Kintail Mountain Rescue Team counts the Five Sisters of Kintail in its area, and calls that area particularly demanding: large areas of consistently steep ground and well-defined ridges.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's full winter forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NG 984 149
Coach and train
There is a Citylink coach stop at Shiel Bridge: Citylink's timetable shows which coaches call. The nearest railway station is Kyle of Lochalsh.
Phone signal
Kintail Mountain Rescue Team warns that mobile coverage is still poor in places: bear that in mind before you head out, and plan for it.
On the hill today
−1° to 3°Drizzle on the summit, 1,027 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.

West wind to 11 mph, gusting 24
Rain, about 4 mm
Light from 7.56am to 6.17pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy−2° to 4° on top · 5 mph, gusts 13
Sun 18Cloudy−3° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 17
Mon 19Cloudy−5° to 6° on top · 7 mph, gusts 17

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Northwest Highlands forecast, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe, 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.

Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe from a grassy shoulder under a blue sky.

Photographs by Nick Bramhall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It's vital to remember that the conditions up in the hills can be very different from those at the roadside, and they can change quickly.Kintail Mountain Rescue Team, whose area takes in the Five Sisters of Kintail
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 984 149
  • 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: Sgurr na Carnach, Sgurr Fhuaran, Saileag, Creag nan Damh. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Kintail Mountain Rescue Team's, the Glenelg and Arnisdale Bus Users Group's and National Rail'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.