Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Beinn a' Mhadaidh
Beinn a' Mhadaidh — "hill of the fox" — is a 403m moorland summit in the NC76 grid square partway up Strath Naver. Cleared townships lie scattered on its lower slopes, a poignant reminder of the Clearances.
Quick facts
- Height
- 403.1m/ 1323ft
- Grid ref
- NC 76898 41490
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 97km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Begin at the Strathnaver Museum or further south near Syre, then follow the river-side tracks before climbing the broad eastern shoulder. Allow 4-5 hours.
Terrain
Tussock grass and ankle-deep heather mark the climb. Lower slopes are dotted with the stone footings of cleared crofts — please leave undisturbed.
In winter
Snow rarely accumulates in Strath Naver but the river crossings can become impassable after thaw. Brief winter daylight here barely reaches eight hours in December.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 26m
- Edinburgh7h 38m
OS maps: OS Landranger 10, OS Explorer 448S
Mobile signal: Poor. Strath Halladale / Strath Naver area has virtually no mobile infrastructure.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:09
- Sunset
- 22:25
- Civil dawn
- 02:51
- Civil dusk
- 23:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Beinn a' Mhadaidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn a' Mhadaidh — common questions
- How hard is Beinn a' Mhadaidh?
- Beinn a' Mhadaidh is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Tussock grass and ankle-deep heather mark the climb.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Mhadaidh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Mhadaidh 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 Beinn a' Mhadaidh?
- 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' Mhadaidh?
- Poor. Strath Halladale / Strath Naver area has virtually no mobile infrastructure.
- Is Beinn a' Mhadaidh safe in winter?
- Snow rarely accumulates in Strath Naver but the river crossings can become impassable after thaw. Brief winter daylight here barely reaches eight hours in December.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.