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Graham · Skye & The Small Isles
Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)
Trollabhal (702m) is the central peak of the Rum Cuillin, a Norse-named summit in the NM37 square whose dark gabbro and ultrabasic rock give the whole island its forbidding profile. The name is from the Old Norse for troll-fell. Standing between Askival and Ainshval, it shares the same wild, sea-girt character as its Cuillin cousins on Skye but on a more compact and seldom-visited stage.
Quick facts
- Height
- 702m/ 2303ft
- Prominence
- 189 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 576 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NM377952
- Parking
- NM378948
- Nearest
- Fort William
- 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
igneous rock 45% · heather moorland 35% · grassy corrie 20%
From Kinloch follow Coire Dubh into the heart of the range, then traverse below the Bealach an Oir to reach the bealach with Askival. A scrambly south-east ridge — short but exposed on grade 1 gabbro — leads to the twin summit. Most parties continue south to take in Ainshval, completing a full Rum Cuillin traverse before descending Dibidil Glen.
Terrain
Rough bog and bracken on the walk-in, then gabbro and peridotite slabs above 500m that grip superbly when dry. The summit ridge is narrow with a couple of grade 1 moves and serious drops on the Glen Harris side. Pathless throughout above the corrie floor.
In winter
The Rum Cuillin in winter is a serious mountaineering proposition — Grade I at minimum with verglassed gabbro and Atlantic gales that can pin parties for days. Ferries are sparse and the bothies basic. Conditions vary wildly from snow-plastered to bare rock within hours.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 25m
- Edinburgh4h 17m
Ferry access
Mallaig → Rum (Loch Scresort)
- Crossing time90 min
- Summer sailingsMon, Wed, Fri, Sat (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailingsMon & Thu only (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead28 days
No cars permitted on Rum — foot passengers only. Trollaval is almost exclusively climbed as part of the full Cuillin ring; overnight at Dibidil bothy or Kinloch.
Book on CalMac ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 39
Mobile signal: Expect little. Remote Rum interior; just fragments of signal.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:50
- Sunset
- 22:12
- Civil dawn
- 03:49
- Civil dusk
- 23:13
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval).
Around Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) — common questions
- What difficulty is Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 576m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Rough bog and bracken on the walk-in, then gabbro and peridotite slabs above 500m that grip superbly when dry.
- What is Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)'s prominence?
- 189m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)?
- Most walkers start from NM378948 near Fort William. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval). Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)?
- Expect little. Remote Rum interior; just fragments of signal.
- How do I get the ferry to Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval)?
- Mallaig → Rum (Loch Scresort). Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat (Apr–Oct) in summer; Mon & Thu only (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 28 days ahead. No cars permitted on Rum — foot passengers only. Trollaval is almost exclusively climbed as part of the full Cuillin ring; overnight at Dibidil bothy or Kinloch.
- Is Trollabhal (Trollaval] [Trallval) safe in winter?
- The Rum Cuillin in winter is a serious mountaineering proposition — Grade I at minimum with verglassed gabbro and Atlantic gales that can pin parties for days. Ferries are sparse and the bothies basic. Conditions vary wildly from snow-plastered to bare rock within hours.
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