Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Ben Meabost
Ben Meabost is a 345m hill overlooking the village of Elgol on south Skye, with the Cuillin filling the horizon to the north and Soay and Rum to the west. A near-perfect short walk for big rewards.
Quick facts
- Height
- 345.6m/ 1134ft
- Grid ref
- NG 53661 15942
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 15%
Park near Elgol and follow the road then track up onto the open hillside, climbing grass and heather to the summit. About 4 km return with around 320m of ascent.
Terrain
Grass and heather throughout with a short rockier section near the top. The grazed lower slopes are dry going by Skye standards.
In winter
Generally snow-free at this elevation. A great winter half-day when bigger hills are out of condition.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 49m
- Edinburgh8h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 411
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Sleat, Skye; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:22
- Civil dawn
- 03:19
- Civil dusk
- 23:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Ben Meabost on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Mallaig station
End of the Road to the Isles — ferry to Skye, Knoydart, Small Isles
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Mallaig
Ferry port for Skye and the Small Isles; CWT finish supply
24km 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
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ben Meabost — common questions
- How hard is Ben Meabost?
- Ben Meabost is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Grass and heather throughout with a short rockier section near the top.
- When is the best time to climb Ben Meabost?
- The standard good-weather months for Ben Meabost 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 Meabost?
- 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 Meabost?
- Poor. Remote Sleat, Skye; limited coverage.
- Is Ben Meabost safe in winter?
- Generally snow-free at this elevation. A great winter half-day when bigger hills are out of condition.
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