Sub-Marilyn · Knoydart
Aonach Sgoilte
Aonach Sgoilte, the split ridge, is the long 848m crest east of Ladhar Bheinn in north Knoydart. The descriptive name fits — the summit is a knife of broken rock with twin tops divided by a notch, and the drops north into Coire Mhuidhe are precipitous.
Quick facts
- Height
- 848.4m/ 2783ft
- Prominence
- 142 m
- Grid ref
- NG 84020 02695
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 39km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Sub-Marilyn: 142m of drop — misses the 150m Marilyn cut by 8m. We keep it on the list as a near-miss.
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%
Approached from Barrisdale Bay on Loch Hourn, reached by the long path from the Kinloch Hourn road or by a longer day from Inverie. From Barrisdale the ridge is gained by a stiff pull onto the eastern shoulder; the traverse to the western top is mildly scrambly. 8 hours plus from the road.
Terrain
Steep heathery flanks below the crest; the ridge itself is mainly schist slabs and blocky stepped sections. Exposure is moderate but real where the path keeps near the northern edge.
In winter
A genuine winter mountain at 848m, with snow lying from December through April and significant cornices on the northern flank. Combined with the approach length this becomes a serious overnight undertaking; spring conditions with a Barrisdale bothy stop are kindest.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 37m
- Edinburgh7h 47m
Ferry access
Mallaig → Inverie (Knoydart)
- Crossing time45 min
- Summer sailingsMon–Sat, 2–3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct, Western Isles Cruises)
- Winter sailingsMon/Wed/Fri only (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead3 days
- Last ferry backLast ferry from Inverie ~17:30 (check Western Isles Cruises timetable)
Knoydart is a roadless peninsula — not an island, but accessible only by ferry or a very long walk (18+ km over difficult terrain). Day trips to Sgùrr Coire Choinnichean are achievable in summer. For Ladhar Bheinn, base yourself overnight at Inverie.
Book on ferry operator ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 33, OS Explorer 413S
Mobile signal: Very poor. Barrisdale and the Aonach Sgoilte ridge have no usable mobile coverage; the bothy radio is the practical fallback.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:16
- Sunset
- 21:41
- Civil dawn
- 04:24
- Civil dusk
- 22:33
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Aonach Sgoilte on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Aonach Sgoilte — common questions
- How difficult is Aonach Sgoilte?
- Aonach Sgoilte carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Steep heathery flanks below the crest; the ridge itself is mainly schist slabs and blocky stepped sections.
- What is Aonach Sgoilte's prominence?
- 142m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Aonach Sgoilte to the next higher ground. That leaves it 8m short of the 150m drop a Marilyn needs — DoBIH classes it a sub-Marilyn, a near-miss rather than a full Marilyn.
- When is the best time to climb Aonach Sgoilte?
- April, May, June, September give the most reliable conditions on Aonach Sgoilte. 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 Aonach Sgoilte 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 Aonach Sgoilte?
- Very poor. Barrisdale and the Aonach Sgoilte ridge have no usable mobile coverage; the bothy radio is the practical fallback.
- How do I get the ferry to Aonach Sgoilte?
- Mallaig → Inverie (Knoydart). Mon–Sat, 2–3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct, Western Isles Cruises) in summer; Mon/Wed/Fri only (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 3 days ahead. Knoydart is a roadless peninsula — not an island, but accessible only by ferry or a very long walk (18+ km over difficult terrain). Day trips to Sgùrr Coire Choinnichean are achievable in summer. For Ladhar Bheinn, base yourself overnight at Inverie.
- Is Aonach Sgoilte safe in winter?
- A genuine winter mountain at 848m, with snow lying from December through April and significant cornices on the northern flank. Combined with the approach length this becomes a serious overnight undertaking; spring conditions with a Barrisdale bothy stop are kindest.
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