How hard is An Lean-charn?

We grade An Lean-charn at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Terrain: Deep peat hags and pool systems dominate the long approach.

How prominent is An Lean-charn?

An Lean-charn has 328m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.

When should I climb An Lean-charn?

The standard good-weather months for An Lean-charn are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.

Can I bring my dog up An Lean-charn?

On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.

By Gary

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · North-West Highlands

An Lean-charn

An Lean-charn ("the slender cairn") stands 521m in the NC41 square deep inside the Naver Forest deer ground, west of Loch Loyal. Few walkers reach it in any year. 521 m — a North-West Highlands hill.

Quick facts

Height: 521m/ 1709ft
Prominence: 328 m
Difficulty: 2 / 5Moderate
Grid ref: NC 41980 52568
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

blanket bog 60% · heather moorland 25% · rocky summit 15%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

The shortest approach uses the Altnaharra-Tongue road, leaving a vehicle near Loch Loyal and crossing the rough watershed pathless to gain the broad summit ridge from the south. Expect 6-7 hours.

Terrain

Deep peat hags and pool systems dominate the long approach. The summit itself is a tidy quartzite cairn on a narrow crest, surprisingly well defined.

In winter

Bog freezes hard from December and becomes much easier to cross when locked solid. Days are too short for safe winter rounds without a bivouac plan.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers An Lean-charn. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow7h 46m
Edinburgh8h 32m

OS maps: OS Landranger 9, OS Explorer 446

Mobile signal: Poor. Very remote north Sutherland; no reliable coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 19mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:45
Sunset: 19:44
Civil dawn: 06:05
Civil dusk: 20:24

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around An Lean-charn on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Lairg station

Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland

50km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Durness

Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in

15km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

An Lean-charn — common questions

How hard is An Lean-charn?: We grade An Lean-charn at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Terrain: Deep peat hags and pool systems dominate the long approach.
How prominent is An Lean-charn?: An Lean-charn has 328m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
When should I climb An Lean-charn?: The standard good-weather months for An Lean-charn are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
Can I bring my dog up An Lean-charn?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
What's mobile reception like on An Lean-charn?: Poor. Very remote north Sutherland; no reliable coverage.
Is An Lean-charn safe in winter?: Bog freezes hard from December and becomes much easier to cross when locked solid. Days are too short for safe winter rounds without a bivouac plan.

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