What is Beinn Dearg's prominence?

151m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Dearg to the next higher ground. 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 Dearg?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Dearg. 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 Dearg 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: Simon Bonney / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · North-West Highlands

Beinn Dearg

This Beinn Dearg — the red hill — is the 424m Cape Wrath summit at NC 279 658, not to be confused with the Munro of the same name far to the south. The red sandstone bands that give it its name run in horizontal terraces across the south face, glowing especially in evening light.

Gaelic: “mountain, red” · Pronunciation: bine jerr-ak

Quick facts

Height: 423.8m/ 1390ft
Prominence: 151 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NC 27975 65804
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 40% · Torridonian sandstone 35% · quartzite 25%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Approached from the A838 near Eriboll, with a 5km walk-in across rough moor before the climb. Often combined with Creag Riabhach in a long Cape Wrath day. Allow 6-7 hours.

Terrain

Torridonian sandstone over Lewisian gneiss — the geological boundary is visible as a colour change on the south face. Above the sandstone, quartzite caps the summit area with a scattering of pale blocks.

In winter

Disambiguated from the southern Beinn Dearg Munro by the much lower altitude and Cape Wrath location. Snow cover is intermittent but freezing rain on the sandstone terraces creates serious slip hazards.

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

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Dearg. 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 11m
Edinburgh8h 8m

OS maps: OS Landranger 9, OS Explorer 446

Mobile signal: Very poor. Extreme NW Sutherland; virtually no mobile coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

13h 12mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:15
Sunset: 19:07
Civil dawn: 06:35
Civil dusk: 19:47

NOAA Solar Calculator · 27 September 2026

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Around Beinn Dearg on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Durness

Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in

12km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Beinn Dearg — common questions

Is Beinn Dearg a hard climb?: Beinn Dearg is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Torridonian sandstone over Lewisian gneiss — the geological boundary is visible as a colour change on the south face.
What is Beinn Dearg's prominence?: 151m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Dearg to the next higher ground. 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 Dearg?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Dearg. 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 Dearg 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 Dearg?: Very poor. Extreme NW Sutherland; virtually no mobile coverage.
Is Beinn Dearg safe in winter?: Disambiguated from the southern Beinn Dearg Munro by the much lower altitude and Cape Wrath location. Snow cover is intermittent but freezing rain on the sandstone terraces creates serious slip hazards.

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