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
- Prominence
- 232 m
- Grid ref
- NG 53661 15942
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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
- 05:18
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:25
- Civil dusk
- 22:36
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 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?
- We grade Ben Meabost at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Terrain: Grass and heather throughout with a short rockier section near the top.
- How prominent is Ben Meabost?
- Ben Meabost has 232m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I 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?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like 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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