Marilyn · Cairngorms
Bin of Cullen
The Bin, a 320m wooded sentinel rising directly inland from the harbour village of Cullen on the Moray Firth. The summit clearing is one of the great coastal viewpoints in Scotland — a sweep of sea from Tarbat Ness to Troup Head with the Caithness hills crisp on the northern horizon.
Quick facts
- Height
- 320m/ 1050ft
- Prominence
- 164 m
- Grid ref
- NJ 47989 64259
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 74km
- 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 30% · rocky summit 10%
From the parking at NJ485644 follow the waymarked Bin Forest paths south and west, climbing through plantation to the open summit. About 5km return with 280m of ascent — two and a half hours including time at the top.
Terrain
Well-maintained forest tracks for most of the climb; a short pull onto open heather at the top. The going is firm gravel and short turf throughout.
In winter
Snow rarely sticks at this low coastal altitude but the exposed summit catches the full force of any north-easterly. Forestry tracks can ice up — boot grippers are useful in a hard frost.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 52m
- Edinburgh5h 31m
OS maps: OS Landranger 28, OS Landranger 29, OS Explorer 425N
Mobile signal: Signal is good; EE and Vodafone reliable. Fine Moray coast views.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:34
- Civil dawn
- 04:08
- Civil dusk
- 22:28
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Bin of Cullen on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Bin of Cullen — common questions
- How hard is Bin of Cullen?
- We grade Bin of Cullen at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Underfoot: Well-maintained forest tracks for most of the climb; a short pull onto open heather at the top.
- What is Bin of Cullen's prominence?
- 164m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Bin of Cullen 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 Bin of Cullen?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Bin of Cullen. 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 Bin of Cullen 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 Bin of Cullen?
- Signal is good; EE and Vodafone reliable. Fine Moray coast views.
- Is Bin of Cullen safe in winter?
- Snow rarely sticks at this low coastal altitude but the exposed summit catches the full force of any north-easterly. Forestry tracks can ice up — boot grippers are useful in a hard frost.
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