Is Beinn a' Charnain a hard climb?

Beinn a' Charnain is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Springy turf, low heather and rocky outcrops with very little bog underfoot.

What is Beinn a' Charnain's prominence?

Beinn a' Charnain's prominence is its full height — 196m — because it is the highest point of its landmass, with no higher ground connected to it. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Charnain?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Charnain. 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 Beinn a' Charnain dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Peter Standing / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Outer Hebrides

Beinn a' Charnain

Beinn a' Chàrnain, at 196m, is the high point of Pabbay, the uninhabited island in the Sound of Harris north-west of Berneray. Tiny in scale, it gives an outsized panorama across the Sound of Harris and back to the Harris and Uist hills.

Quick facts

Height: 196m/ 643ft
Prominence: 196 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NF 89395 88459
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 50% · Lewisian gneiss 35% · rocky summit 15%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Pabbay has no causeway and no ferry. Getting there means hiring a boat or charter; once landed, open ground leads up to the modest summit ridge in well under an hour. Settle the return pick-up before you leave the boat.

Terrain

Springy turf, low heather and rocky outcrops with very little bog underfoot. The cairn-strewn summit is a delight to wander.

In winter

Short and low, but winter visits depend entirely on a boat being able to land, which Atlantic swell in the Sound of Harris often prevents.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn a' Charnain. 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. No MWIS mountain forecast covers this area either. In winter, work from a local weather forecast, 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

Glasgow9h 10m
Edinburgh11h 28m

OS maps: OS Landranger 18, OS Explorer 455

Mobile signal: Poor. Networks don't reach this summit; download maps before crossing.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

10h 43mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:32
Sunset: 16:53
Civil dawn: 06:51
Civil dusk: 17:34

NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026

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Around Beinn a' Charnain on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Tarbert (Harris)

Harris base — Clisham, Luskentyre, Hebridean Way

29km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Isle of Harris

Tarbert (Harris) — new island distillery; also known for the Harris Gin

29km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Beinn a' Charnain — common questions

Is Beinn a' Charnain a hard climb?: Beinn a' Charnain is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Springy turf, low heather and rocky outcrops with very little bog underfoot.
What is Beinn a' Charnain's prominence?: Beinn a' Charnain's prominence is its full height — 196m — because it is the highest point of its landmass, with no higher ground connected to it. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Charnain?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Charnain. 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 Beinn a' Charnain 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 Beinn a' Charnain?: Poor. Networks don't reach this summit; download maps before crossing.
Is Beinn a' Charnain safe in winter?: Short and low, but winter visits depend entirely on a boat being able to land, which Atlantic swell in the Sound of Harris often prevents.

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