Marilyn · skye
Beinn Chreagach
Beinn Chreagach — the Rocky Hill — rises in the middle of the Waternish peninsula in north-west Skye. The NG 28 53 grid puts it on the high ground between Loch Bay and Loch Snizort, overlooking the village of Stein and the romantic outline of Dunvegan Castle to the south.
Quick facts
- Height
- 326m/ 1070ft
- Grid ref
- NG 28911 53428
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%
Park at Geary (NG 26 60) or near Trumpan church and head south-east up the open hillside. The summit is a rocky knot with a small cairn and views across to MacLeod's Tables. About 7 km return with 280m of climb.
Terrain
Heather and tussocky grass with frequent basalt outcrops giving the hill its Gaelic name. The going is reasonable on the upper plateau but boggy through the lower fields.
In winter
Sea-level base means snow rarely settles for long. The exposed top catches the full Minch wind and rain-frozen rock makes the summit cap awkward in cold conditions.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow7h 14m
- Edinburgh10h 30m
OS maps: OS Landranger 23, OS Explorer 407
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Skye or Inner Hebrides; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:27
- Sunset
- 22:27
- Civil dawn
- 03:16
- Civil dusk
- 23:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Beinn Chreagach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
54km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
23km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Chreagach — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Chreagach?
- Beinn Chreagach is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Heather and tussocky grass with frequent basalt outcrops giving the hill its Gaelic name.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Chreagach?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Chreagach 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 Chreagach?
- 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 Chreagach?
- Poor. Remote Skye or Inner Hebrides; limited coverage.
- Is Beinn Chreagach safe in winter?
- Sea-level base means snow rarely settles for long. The exposed top catches the full Minch wind and rain-frozen rock makes the summit cap awkward in cold conditions.
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