Marilyn · Skye
Ben Tianavaig
Ben Tianavaig is the striking sea-cliff hill that dominates the bay south of Portree on Skye. The NG 51 40 grid puts it at the heart of The Braes, the crofting community whose 1882 land struggles were a turning point in Highland history; the hill's eastern face plunges in basalt columns directly to the Sound of Raasay.
Quick facts
- Height
- 413m/ 1355ft
- Prominence
- 366 m
- Grid ref
- NG 51182 40974
- 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
heather moorland 45% · rocky slopes 40% · grass slopes 15%
From Camas Ban (NG 51 42) follow the well-defined coastal path south, then bear inland to climb the grassy north ridge. The summit sits on the cliff edge directly above the sea. About 7 km return with 430m of climb.
Terrain
A clear grassy path follows the ridge above the eastern cliffs. The going is firm sheep-grazed turf with occasional basalt outcrops — far drier than most Skye hills.
In winter
Sea-level base means snow rarely settles, but the cliff edge becomes lethally slippery in any frost. East-facing crags hold winter ice on rare cold spells.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 18m
- Edinburgh9h 30m
OS maps: OS Landranger 23, OS Landranger 24, OS Explorer 409, OS Explorer 410
Mobile signal: Poor. Neither EE nor Vodafone works on this remote Skye hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:45
- Civil dawn
- 04:24
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Ben Tianavaig 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
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
4km 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 Tianavaig — common questions
- What difficulty is Ben Tianavaig?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Tianavaig comes in at 1/5 — easy. Underfoot: A clear grassy path follows the ridge above the eastern cliffs.
- What is Ben Tianavaig's prominence?
- 366m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ben Tianavaig 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 Tianavaig?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Ben Tianavaig. 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 Tianavaig 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 Tianavaig?
- Poor. Neither EE nor Vodafone works on this remote Skye hill.
- Is Ben Tianavaig safe in winter?
- Sea-level base means snow rarely settles, but the cliff edge becomes lethally slippery in any frost. East-facing crags hold winter ice on rare cold spells.
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