NG9561 : Summit area of Ruadh-stac Mor
Strenuous; steep scree and short scrambling

Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mor

1,010m Elevation
632m Prominence
Scotland Country
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NG9561 : Summit area of Ruadh-stac Mor

Steven Brown Photo source

Overview

Ruadh-stac Mor (1010 m) is the highest summit of Beinn Eighe in Torridon, on a northern spur above Coire Mhic Fhearchair. The mountain’s other Munro is Spidean Coire nan Clach (993 m). Summit routes are strenuous mountain walks with steep scree, rough ridges and some scrambling.

Beinn Eighe – Ruadh-stac Mor

Ruadh-stac Mor is Beinn Eighe’s highest summit, at 1010 m. It lies on a northern spur above Coire Mhic Fhearchair. Spidean Coire nan Clach, 993 m, is the mountain’s other Munro. The cairn at Ruadh-stac Mor is recorded at NG951611 in DoBIH.

Choosing a walk

  • Clockwise western-Munros circuit: The Great Outdoors gives 19.6 km and 7–9 hours for its Glen Torridon itinerary, visiting Ruadh-stac Mor before Spidean Coire nan Clach.
  • Anti-clockwise western-Munros circuit: Walkhighlands gives 18 km and 7–9 hours for its itinerary, visiting the same Munros in reverse order. These are each publisher’s estimates for its mapped route, not interchangeable measured totals.
  • Ruadh-stac Mor alone can be approached through Coire Mhic Fhearchair and retraced. This combines the ascent described by UKHillwalking with the reverse descent described by Walkhighlands. It uses the steep gully twice and still demands mountain experience.
  • Coire Mhic Fhearchair only: 14 km, 3½–5 hours, returning from the lochan. It reaches neither Munro.
  • NNR Mountain Trail: 6.5 km, 3–4 hours from the A832 beside Loch Maree. This separate, steep and rocky waymarked circuit also reaches neither Munro.

Mountain safety

The western circuit includes loose scree, steep corrie slopes, rough ridges and short scrambling. Published guides differ on circuit direction; neither direction removes the difficult ground. Wet rock, wind and poor visibility can make progress much harder. The trig pillar west of Spidean Coire nan Clach is below that Munro’s true summit. Careful navigation matters, particularly on the descent into Coire an Laoigh. Use a detailed route description and an appropriate map on the hill.

UKHillwalking highlights winter cornices and possible avalanche problems in both corries. Snow and ice call for winter mountaineering skills and appropriate equipment. Check mountain weather and any current SAIS Torridon report; a report from a previous season does not describe today’s conditions. Mountaineering Scotland explains the preparation required.

Access, landscape and names

The western-Munros walks use the A896 Coire Dubh car park in Glen Torridon. The reserve visitor centre and A832 trails are separate destinations. NatureScot lists visitor facilities and local travel information; check opening times and onward transport before travel.

Beinn Eighe’s landscape combines sandstone, quartzite, glacial corries and ancient pinewoods. Its national nature reserve was established in 1951. See the NatureScot reserve leaflet. Beinn Eighe means “file mountain”, according to LearnGaelic.

Editorial sources checked 16 October 2026, 08:13:49–08:17:26 UTC. DoBIH’s 28 October 2001 record revision is retained separately; it is not the date of this review or a claimed new summit survey.

Explore routes near Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mor

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Beinn Eighe Lancaster Wreckage at Coire Mhic Fhearchair

16 km ~6h Hard

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Fairy Lochs Liberator Wreckage Circuit

4.9 km ~2h 30m Moderate

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Loch Affric full circuit from River Affric

17.5 km ~5h 30m Moderate

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Glen Affric: Coire Loch Woodland Trail

4.6 km ~2h Hard

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Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Western Munros clockwise via Coire Mhic Fhearchair

From the A896 Coire Dubh car park, follow Coire Dubh Mor and contour around Sail Mhor to the lochan. Climb the steep scree gully, visit Ruadh-stac Mor, then return to the saddle and cross the ridge to Spidean Coire nan Clach. Return to the trig pillar, descend Coire an Laoigh and turn west along the road to the start. The Great Outdoors gives 19.6 km and 7–9 hours for this circuit.

19.6 km Strenuous; steep scree and short scrambling

Western Munros anti-clockwise via Coire an Laoigh

From Coire Dubh car park, walk east along the A896 to the Coire an Laoigh path. Climb to Spidean Coire nan Clach, return past the trig point and traverse west towards Coinneach Mhor, then north to Ruadh-stac Mor. Return to the saddle and descend the very steep Coire Mhic Fhearchair scree gully; follow the lochan and stalkers path back to the start. Walkhighlands gives 18 km and 7–9 hours.

18 km Strenuous; steep descent and short scrambling

Ruadh-stac Mor via Coire Mhic Fhearchair, out and back

Use the Coire Dubh approach to Coire Mhic Fhearchair, pass along the lochan’s east side and climb the scree gully to the saddle. Follow the northern spur to Ruadh-stac Mor, then retrace the same way. This return variant uses the steep, loose gully in both directions and omits Spidean Coire nan Clach; it is still a serious mountain walk.

Strenuous; steep loose gully in both directions

Coire Mhic Fhearchair lochan, no Munro summit

Walk from the A896 Coire Dubh car park through Coire Dubh Mor and around Sail Mhor to the lochan below the Triple Buttress. Return by the same path, without climbing the scree gully. Walkhighlands gives 14 km and 3½–5 hours. The rocky path enters wild, exposed terrain, so this is a substantial hillwalk despite omitting both Munros.

14 km Moderate hillwalk; long, rocky and exposed

Beinn Eighe NNR Mountain Trail, no Munro summit

A separate waymarked circuit from Coille na Glas Leitir car park on the A832 beside Loch Maree (NH002650). It climbs through pinewoods to the Conservation Cairn and returns through rocky upland terrain. NatureScot and Walkhighlands give 6.5 km and 3–4 hours. It reaches neither Ruadh-stac Mor nor Spidean Coire nan Clach, and includes steep, rocky sections exposed to the weather.

6.5 km Moderate mountain trail; steep and rocky
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Marilyn Munro Simm High Hills of Britain

Elevation

1,010m

3,314 ft

Prominence

632m

Coordinates

57.5937, -5.4295

NG951611

OS Map

19

Explorer: 433

At the Summit

A cairn marks Ruadh-stac Mor. The trig pillar on the main ridge is associated with the approach to Spidean Coire nan Clach, and is below that separate Munro’s true summit.

Terrain & Geology

Rocky stalkers paths lead towards the corrie; higher up are very steep scree rough stone-covered ridges and short scrambling sections. Coire an Laoigh is also steep. The walk to the lochan is easier than continuing onto the Munros.

Beinn Eighe combines Torridonian sandstone with younger quartzite. The pale quartzite is conspicuous on the ridges and scree; the Triple Buttress shows sandstone below quartzite. Glaciers shaped the corries, while thrusting has locally placed older sandstone above younger rock.

Views & Scenery

Ruadh-stac Mor looks back over Coire Mhic Fhearchair and the main Beinn Eighe ridge. The western traverse also gives views towards Liathach and the wild country north of Torridon, when visibility allows.

History & Heritage

Name Origin

Beinn Eighe means “file mountain”, referring to the tool. NatureScot renders Ruadh-stac Mor as “the Greater Steep Red Hill”.

Historical Significance

Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve was established in 1951 as Britain’s first national nature reserve, protecting habitats that include ancient Scots pinewoods and mountain ground.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Coire Dubh car park on the A896 in Glen Torridon, just west of the bridge over Allt a’ Choire Dhuibh Mhòir (Walkhighlands start grid NG958569). This is the western-Munros and Coire Mhic Fhearchair start. The NNR Mountain Trail uses a separate A832 car park.

Public Transport

Walkhighlands lists no public transport to the A896 western-Munros start. NatureScot lists a limited Inverness bus to Kinlochewe and rail to Achnasheen for the reserve area. These do not provide a direct summit-route connection; check current timetables and arrange onward and return travel.

Nearby Facilities

Kinlochewe has a shop, café and accommodation. NatureScot lists toilets at its Beinn Eighe visitor centre on the A832, open 10am–5pm; check current opening arrangements. The visitor centre is separate from the A896 western-Munros start.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • The Coire Mhic Fhearchair gully is very steep, eroded and loose; it requires care in either direction.
  • Rocky ridges and short scrambling become more serious in wet or windy conditions. Poor visibility makes route-finding harder.
  • The lochan outflow may be difficult in spate. The steep Coire an Laoigh descent needs careful navigation.

Seasonal Hazards

Snow and ice make this winter mountaineering terrain. Cornices and avalanche-prone snow can affect the ridges, the Coire Mhic Fhearchair gully and Coire an Laoigh. Short daylight, navigation, winter skills and trained use of an ice axe and crampons must be considered. Check mountain weather and available seasonal SAIS reports.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

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Location

Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mor location map

Grid reference: NG951611

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