Scotland-Landscapes.com - Liathach – Spidean a’ Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain

Liathach is a towering and shapely giant that dominates Glen Torridon in the heart of Wester Ross in the north west Highlands – it is one of the very finest peaks of Scotland and the British Isles. It is built from tier after tier of billion year old Torridonian sandstone and capped by pale Cambrian quartzite. Liathach has two Munro summits; Spidean a’ Choire Leith, the mountains highest point, and Mullach an Rathain, accompanied by a further four Munro subsidiary tops; including the fantastic Am Fasarinen and its pinnacles, and the outlying Meall Dearg, joined to Mullach an Rathain by the Northern Pinnacles. Torridon or Kinlochewe are perfect bases for climbing Liathach – you can search and book accommodation here.

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Liathach’s Munros – Spidean a’ Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain

Spidean a' Choire Leith - Liathach from from Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig, Torridon & Fisherfield — Spidean a’ Choire Leith – Liathach from from Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig

The way west from Spidean a' Choire Leith to Mullach an Rathain, Torridon & Fisherfield — Spidean a’ Choire Leith – Liathach from from Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig

Table of Liathach Munro summits and tops

DoBIHID	Mountain	Height	Classification	Image 1	Image 2	Image 3
953	Liathach - Spidean a' Choire Leith	1055m/3461ft	Munro	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image
954	Liathach - Mullach an Rathain	1024m/3359ft	Munro	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image
958	Stob a' Choire Liath Mhor	984m/3227ft	Munro Top	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image
963	Meall Dearg	955m/3133ft	Munro Top	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image
967	Am Fasarinen	929m/3047ft	Munro Top	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image
969	Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig	915m/3003ft	Munro Top	Context Image	Detail Image	Summit Image

Adapted from The Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH) under CC BY 4.0

Explore Liathach with the interactive map of the peaks, photos and indicative routes below. Click on a feature to see photos and more information; see a legend by toggling the side panel and switch layers on and off. View a larger map here. Please let me know what you think!

Interactive map of Liathach including the Munro summits and tops, photos

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Important note: Routes on this map are provided as an indication only in good faith. They are approximate and indicative and should not be relied on for navigation or as a guarantee that any specific person will be capable of completing them. Read more here.

The eastern tops – Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig, Stob a’ Choire Liath Mhor and Spidean a’ Choire Leith

The eastern end of the Liathach ridge is most easily gained by either of two routes: by a small path from Glen Torridon up the Allt an Doire Ghairbh into the shallow and steep Coire Liath Mhor and on up steep ground to a low point between Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig and Stob a’ Choire Liath Mhor; or from the Coire Dubh Mor path where, a little over a kilometre from the car park on the main road, gorgeous easily angled Torridonian sandstone slabs can be followed to reach steep heather and scree on the eastern side of Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig and a way worked up and right (northwards) to reach the upper north east ridge. Easy scrambling leads through a tier of sandstone to bouldery quartzite above.

Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig, Liathach’s most easterly top, offers a classic and sensational view west along the spine of the mountain to the aesthetic pyramid like summits of Stob a’ Choire Liath Mhor and Spidean a’ Choire Leith. The ridge is beautifully poised above the surrounding crags but in summer conditions the going is ultimately straightforward as it undulates and winds high above the glen to Liathach’s highest summit Spidean a’ Choire Leith (1055m/3461ft).

Early April morning light on Liathach's eastern tops, Torridon & Fisherfield — Early April morning light on Liathach’s eastern tops

West down Glen Torridon from the Coire Liath Mhor path, Torridon & Fisherfield — Early April morning light on Liathach’s eastern tops

Am Fasarinen Pinnacles

The Am Fasarinen pinnacles make up the most tricky scrambling section of the Liathach main ridge and divide the mountain’s two Munros, Spidean a’ Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain. In summer their traverse is a classic and highly recommended scrambling grade 2. In winter they are given a winter climbing grade in appropriate conditions. Most difficulties can be avoided but the most fun can be had taking most obstacles fairly directly. The ridge is airy but generally the scrambling moves don’t feel too exposed. Read a detailed route description in the SMC guide Highland Scrambles North.

Spidean a’ Choire Leith from the most eastern Am Fasarinen pinnacle, Torridon & Fisherfield — At the east end of the Am Fasarinen pinnacles

Mullach an Rathain

Mullach an Rathain is the second Munro of Liathach at 1024m/3359ft, some 31 metres lower than Spidean a’ Choire Leith. It is easily reached from the west end of the Am Fasarinen pinnacles along a rising and undulating grassy ridge. It is a spectacular and very fine viewpoint on a good day. It is most commonly ascended/descended via the shallow coire of Toll Ban on it’s southern slopes. In summer a rough path climbs the coire headwall on quite steep ground. In snowy conditions this path may be obliterated and avalanche risk may need to be considered.

Meall Dearg & the Northern Pinnacles

Meall Dearg is a lower Munro Top to the north east of Mullach an Rathain, outlying from the main ridge – to which it is joined by the Northern Pinnacles that form a tricky scrambling barrier. Meall Dearg is perhaps the most tricky mainland Munro Top to reach (the others being in the Cuillin of Skye). The easiest summer route involves a dodge of any real difficulty up the grass and stones near the gully between Meall Dearg and the Northern Pinnacles from Coireag Cham, the upper coire of Coire na Caime. This might not be the most satisfactory ascent however. The SMC guide Highland Scrambles North describes a scramble on to the east ridge of Meall Dearg and the continuation over the Northern Pinnacles.

Mullach an Rathain, the Northern Pinnacles and Meall Dearg across Coireag Cham, Torridon & Fisherfield — Mullach an Rathain, the Northern Pinnacles and Meall Dearg across Coireag Cham

Mullach an Rathain and the Northern Pinnacles across Coireag Cham, Torridon & Fisherfield — Mullach an Rathain, the Northern Pinnacles and Meall Dearg across Coireag Cham

Descents from Liathach

The main descent routes from Liathach are the same as those already mentioned in ascent. An additional possibility is the north west ridge of Mullach an Rathain (between Coireag Dhearg and Glas – Toll a’ Bothain) which although steep, rough and pathless gives a feasible route down the north side of the mountain. From here an easterly traverse can be made across the mouth of Coire na Caime towards the east end of the mountain and the Coire Dubh Mor path through the defile between Beinn Eighe and Liathach – this removes the potential need for a boring walk back along the road after a traverse and lets you explore rough, wild, remote country instead.

Me, Jason Bonniface, on the descent of the north west ridge of Mullach an Rathain, Torridon & Fisherfield — Me, Jason Bonniface, on the descent of the north west ridge of Mullach an Rathain

The north west face of Mullach an Rathain and the Northern Pinnacles, Torridon & Fisherfield — Me, Jason Bonniface, on the descent of the north west ridge of Mullach an Rathain

Liathach – summer and winter climbing

There are many excellent summer and winter climbs on Liathach on various crags. The northern corries in particular have many winter routes. These are detailed in the SMC’s Northern Highlands South climbing guide.

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