Marilyn · Argyll
Black Craig
Black Craig rises to 522m above Loch Striven on the Cowal peninsula. Its dark cliffs face the loch, while the rounded west side offers walkers an easier line through forestry to the trig pillar.
Quick facts
- Height
- 522m/ 1713ft
- Prominence
- 197 m
- Grid ref
- NS 11598 76053
- Nearest city
- Glasgow· 49km
- 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% · rocky slopes 25% · grass slopes 15%
Track-and-firebreak ascents from the road near Glenstriven gain the open ridge for a final push to the trig. Around four hours for the round trip.
Terrain
Long sections of forest road and felled ground precede grassy upper slopes. Boggy hags lurk on the summit plateau.
In winter
Light snow can blanket the top but it rarely persists. The forest tracks ice up readily — micro-spikes worth carrying.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 0m
- Edinburgh5h 44m
OS maps: OS Landranger 63, OS Explorer 0037S, OS Explorer 363S
Mobile signal: Minimal. no EE here; nearest signal near Bridgend or Bowmore.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:33
- Civil dawn
- 04:31
- Civil dusk
- 22:22
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Black Craig on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Wemyss Bay station
Ferry to Rothesay (Isle of Bute) — West Island Way start
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Rothesay
Isle of Bute base; West Island Way; short Glasgow break
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
27km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Black Craig — common questions
- What difficulty is Black Craig?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Black Craig comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Terrain: Long sections of forest road and felled ground precede grassy upper slopes.
- How prominent is Black Craig?
- Black Craig has 197m 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 Black Craig?
- The standard good-weather months for Black Craig 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 Black Craig?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Black Craig?
- Minimal. no EE here; nearest signal near Bridgend or Bowmore.
- Is Black Craig safe in winter?
- Light snow can blanket the top but it rarely persists. The forest tracks ice up readily — micro-spikes worth carrying.
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