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Grey boulders on the rounded top of Sgùrr na Ruaidhe, hills rolling away beyond.
Glen Affric and Strathfarrar

Sgurr na Ruaidhe

A Munro of 993 metres, number 150 of the 282.

Photograph by Damian Kurczyk, via Google

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Sgurr na Ruaidhe is the easternmost of the four Strathfarrar Munros, which stand in a line above Glen Strathfarrar.

Its nearest neighbour is Carn nan Gobhar, about two kilometres to the north-west, and Sgurr na Ruaidhe tops it by a single metre. Beyond stand Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais, the highest of the four, about three kilometres to the west, and Sgurr Fhuar-thuill at the far western end.

Down in the glen, at its eastern end, Culligran Estate is a family-owned working sheep and deer farm, and has lately turned to renewable energy with a small hydro scheme.

Starts from
Glen Strathfarrar, up a private road behind a locked gate near Struy.
On foot or by bike
Walking or cycling up the glen, you do not need to register your visit with Mountaineering Scotland.
Winter
The private road is not gritted or cleared of snow. Last winter's arrangement for cars ran from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026 and is under review, so read Mountaineering Scotland's page before planning a winter day.
Stalking
Mountaineering Scotland names Braulen Estate and East Monar Estate on the glen road, and asks walkers to follow the estates' signs and notices about deer stalking. Its deer stalking page says how to find out more.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for Strathfarrar, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's full forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026.
The gate
In 2026, from about 1 April to the end of October, anyone may drive up the glen without booking, through a gate kept by a gatekeeper and on a number of conditions. The glen is closed to vehicles all day on Tuesdays and until 1.30pm on Wednesdays. Otherwise the gate opens at 9am and closes at 6pm in April and October, 7pm in May and September and 8pm in June, July and August, and the last car goes in one hour before closing. No more than 25 vehicles are allowed in the glen in a day. The arrangement changes, so read Mountaineering Scotland's page on it before you travel.
Parking
Park at Mhullie Greens, just past Deanie power station, at NH283386. Overnight parking is not allowed anywhere in Strathfarrar. When Mountaineering Scotland last wrote, in October 2024, there was limited or no mobile phone signal in the glen.
Bus
In 2026 buses stop at Struy: the 48 between Tomich and Inverness on Fridays only, and the 44, 44A and 44B between Tomich and Dingwall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Timetables change, so check with Highland Council.
On the hill today
0° to 3°Drizzle on the summit, 993 m. Feels like −5° in the wind.

West wind to 16 mph, gusting 31
Rain, about 3 mm
Light from 7.54am to 6.15pm, ten hours

Sat 17Mostly clear0° to 4° on top · 10 mph, gusts 21
Sun 18Cloudy−3° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 16
Mon 19Cloudy−5° to 6° on top · 3 mph, gusts 6

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 Ruaidhe.

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.

A maximum of 25 vehicles are permitted in the glen on a given day.Mountaineering Scotland, of the summer arrangement at the glen's gate, on its page updated 26 March 2026
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 289 426
  • 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: Carn nan Gobhar, Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais, Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Carn nan Gobhar. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Mountaineering Scotland's, Highland Council'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.