Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Ben Griam Mor
Ben Griam Mor rises to 590m in the NC80 grid square, the higher of two solitary hills standing proud above the Flow Country between Kinbrace and Forsinard. Its sandstone cap is visible for thirty miles.
Gaelic: “mountain, big” · Pronunciation: ben griam more
Quick facts
- Height
- 590m/ 1936ft
- Prominence
- 433 m
- Grid ref
- NC 80656 38927
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 95km
- 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% · heather moorland 30% · rocky summit 20%
Park beside the A897 near Achentoul, then walk west across the open moor and climb the broad eastern ramp to the summit cairn. Allow 5-6 hours for the full round.
Terrain
Old Red Sandstone caps the summit, giving a notably warmer-coloured top than nearby gneiss hills. The lower flanks are typical sodden Flow Country peat.
In winter
The summit catches early-winter snow that lingers in north-facing hollows. A clear cold day from this top offers a near-Arctic panorama across the Flow Country.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 24m
- Edinburgh7h 31m
OS maps: OS Landranger 17, OS Explorer 448S, OS Explorer 449S
Mobile signal: Poor. Very remote Sutherland/Caithness; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:03
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 04:07
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Ben Griam Mor.
Around Ben Griam Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Ben Griam Mor — common questions
- Is Ben Griam Mor a hard climb?
- Ben Griam Mor is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Old Red Sandstone caps the summit, giving a notably warmer-coloured top than nearby gneiss hills.
- What is Ben Griam Mor's prominence?
- 433m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ben Griam Mor 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 Ben Griam Mor?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Ben Griam Mor. 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 Ben Griam Mor 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 Ben Griam Mor?
- Poor. Very remote Sutherland/Caithness; limited coverage.
- Is Ben Griam Mor safe in winter?
- The summit catches early-winter snow that lingers in north-facing hollows. A clear cold day from this top offers a near-Arctic panorama across the Flow Country.
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