Marilyn · skye
Ben Lee
Ben Lee rises directly above the village of Peinchorran on Loch Sligachan, looking south across the loch to Marsco and the Red Hills. The NG 50 33 grid puts it on the small peninsula between Sligachan and Loch Ainort, with a famously good viewpoint over the eastern Cuillin.
Quick facts
- Height
- 444m/ 1457ft
- Grid ref
- NG 50251 33615
- 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 moorland 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%
Park at Peinchorran (NG 53 32) and follow the rough track north-west onto open moor before climbing the heathery east flank. The summit is a small rocky tor with views the length of Loch Sligachan to the Black Cuillin. Around 7 km return with 410m of climb.
Terrain
Trackless heather and bog on the lower slopes, drying onto a grass and outcrop ridge above 300m. The summit tor is small but blocky, requiring a short hands-on step.
In winter
A low coastal hill that catches squalls off the Sound of Raasay. Snow rarely persists but rain-frozen heather is slippery, and the summit step glazes quickly in cold conditions.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 12m
- Edinburgh8h 27m
OS maps: OS Landranger 24, OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 409, OS Explorer 410
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent; occasional signal on summit. Best coverage toward Portree.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:27
- Sunset
- 22:24
- Civil dawn
- 03:17
- Civil dusk
- 23:34
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Ben Lee 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
26km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door
5km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ben Lee — common questions
- How hard is Ben Lee?
- Ben Lee is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Trackless heather and bog on the lower slopes, drying onto a grass and outcrop ridge above 300m.
- When is the best time to climb Ben Lee?
- The standard good-weather months for Ben Lee 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 Ben Lee?
- 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 Lee?
- Moderate. EE intermittent; occasional signal on summit. Best coverage toward Portree.
- Is Ben Lee safe in winter?
- A low coastal hill that catches squalls off the Sound of Raasay. Snow rarely persists but rain-frozen heather is slippery, and the summit step glazes quickly in cold conditions.
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.