Marilyn · Kintail
Carn a' Bhodaich
Carn a' Bhodaich — the old man's cairn — rises to 501m at NH 569 374 between Beauly and Strathfarrar, on the hill ground above Aigas. The bodach name attaches to many Highland summits; here it crowns a rolling tract of forestry and heather between two famous glens.
Quick facts
- Height
- 501m/ 1644ft
- Prominence
- 290 m
- Grid ref
- NH 56989 37497
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 12km
- 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 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Begin from the Eskadale forest road south-west of Beauly. A network of timber tracks gives access into the high ground; leave them where convenient and climb heather to the small cairn. About 3-4 hours.
Terrain
Forestry tracks dominate the lower section, with felled and replanted areas making for awkward going if you stray. Above the trees the ground is heathery and damp with a few peat-hag belts to weave around.
In winter
A low inland hill east of the main winter snowfields. The forestry tracks ice rather than snow up and become slick after thaws. Once on the open hill snow lies only briefly. Microspikes useful, ice axe rarely.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 1m
- Edinburgh5h 52m
OS maps: OS Landranger 26, OS Explorer 416N
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Sutherland edge; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:45
- Sunset
- 19:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:06
- Civil dusk
- 20:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026
Around Carn a' Bhodaich on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Inverness station
Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn a' Bhodaich — common questions
- Is Carn a' Bhodaich a hard climb?
- Carn a' Bhodaich is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Forestry tracks dominate the lower section, with felled and replanted areas making for awkward going if you stray.
- What is Carn a' Bhodaich's prominence?
- 290m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Carn a' Bhodaich 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 Carn a' Bhodaich?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Carn a' Bhodaich. 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 Carn a' Bhodaich 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 Carn a' Bhodaich?
- Poor. Remote Sutherland edge; limited coverage.
- Is Carn a' Bhodaich safe in winter?
- A low inland hill east of the main winter snowfields. The forestry tracks ice rather than snow up and become slick after thaws. Once on the open hill snow lies only briefly. Microspikes useful, ice axe rarely.
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