We grade Arnaval at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Ground conditions: Cropped sheep-grazed grass on the upper hill, deep peat hags lower down.

How much drop does Arnaval have?

The drop is 193m: measured from the summit of Arnaval down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.

What's the best month to climb Arnaval?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Arnaval. 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 Arnaval?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

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

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Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles

Arnaval

Arnaval is a 369m Norse-named rise in the Duirinish peninsula of north-west Skye. The summit gives an unusual sideways view of MacLeod's Tables and out across the Little Minch to Harris on clear days.

Quick facts

Height: 369m/ 1211ft
Prominence: 193 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NG 34535 31659
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

heather moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

A short approach from minor roads near Glendale or Roag, crossing open moor to the rounded top. Around 5 km return with steady gradient on grass and heather.

Terrain

Cropped sheep-grazed grass on the upper hill, deep peat hags lower down. The ground can be quaggy after rain.

In winter

Often free of snow and a good poor-weather choice. Wind is the main concern — the Duirinish peninsula is fully exposed to Atlantic gales.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Arnaval. 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 43m
Edinburgh9h 2m

OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 410, OS Explorer 411

Mobile signal: Poor. Remote South Uist or Skye; limited coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 15mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:53
Sunset: 19:49
Civil dawn: 06:14
Civil dusk: 20:29

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around Arnaval on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station

Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton

42km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Portree

Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr

18km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Talisker

Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied

3km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Arnaval — common questions

How hard is Arnaval?: We grade Arnaval at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Ground conditions: Cropped sheep-grazed grass on the upper hill, deep peat hags lower down.
How much drop does Arnaval have?: The drop is 193m: measured from the summit of Arnaval down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
What's the best month to climb Arnaval?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Arnaval. 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 Arnaval?: 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 Arnaval?: Poor. Remote South Uist or Skye; limited coverage.
Is Arnaval safe in winter?: Often free of snow and a good poor-weather choice. Wind is the main concern — the Duirinish peninsula is fully exposed to Atlantic gales.

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