Corbett · Central Highlands
Little Wyvis
Little Wyvis is the 763m Corbett south-west of Ben Wyvis, sharing a broad heather-and-grass shoulder with its bigger Munro neighbour. The hill is a rounded grassy dome with an embedded boulder cairn at the high point. The view east takes in the Cromarty Firth, the Black Isle and the Moray Firth coast; west into the empty Wyvis Forest and toward the great Ross-shire wilderness around Ben Dearg. A friendly easier alternative to its more demanding Munro neighbour.
Quick facts
- Height
- 763m/ 2503ft
- Prominence
- 249 m
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 626 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH429644
- Parking
- NH410672
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 30km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
forest path 20% · moorland path 40% · grassy plateau 30% · summit area 10%
Start from the Forestry Land Scotland car park at Garbat on the A835 north-west of Garve and follow the well-signposted Ben Wyvis path north into the forest. Where the path forks above the trees, take the left branch west onto open hillside and climb the broad south ridge of Little Wyvis. Around 14km return with 626m of ascent. Many parties combine the hill with Ben Wyvis itself for a long day from the same start.
Terrain
The Ben Wyvis forest path is well-built and engineered. Off the path the hillside is short heather and grass — easy walking with no scrambling. The summit area is broad mossy turf with the embedded boulder cairn unmistakable. No exposure. The broad shoulder shared with Ben Wyvis can be confusing in mist — keep on the south branch.
In winter
A reliable winter Corbett — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes of consequence, and the well-built path stays followable under most snow. The A835 corridor is gritted; Garbat car park is accessible year-round. The summit picks up serious easterly snowfall in the Cromarty Firth weather pattern.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 50m
- Edinburgh4h 59m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Garve / Garbat; intermittent on the summit
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:38
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:34
- Civil dusk
- 23:14
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Little Wyvis.
Around Little Wyvis on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
17km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Little Wyvis — common questions
- How hard is Little Wyvis?
- We grade Little Wyvis at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. The usual route is around 14km with 626m of climbing; allow 4-7 hours. Ground conditions: The Ben Wyvis forest path is well-built and engineered.
- How much drop does Little Wyvis have?
- The drop is 249m: measured from the summit of Little Wyvis down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Little Wyvis?
- Park at NH410672. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Little Wyvis?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Little Wyvis. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Little Wyvis?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Little Wyvis?
- Reasonable signal at Garve / Garbat; intermittent on the summit
- Is Little Wyvis safe in winter?
- A reliable winter Corbett — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes of consequence, and the well-built path stays followable under most snow. The A835 corridor is gritted; Garbat car park is accessible year-round. The summit picks up serious easterly snowfall in the Cromarty Firth weather pattern.
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