Marilyn · Argyll & Bute
Carn Ban
Carn Ban — the Pale Cairn — sits in the wild southeast corner of Mull above Loch Spelve, a low rolling summit at 248m more notable for solitude than altitude. The pale quartz-rich rock that gives the hill its name shows through the heather on the upper crown. From the top the view runs across Loch Buie and out to Lismore, with the high mass of Ben Buie filling the western skyline.
Gaelic: “cairn-topped hill, fair” · Pronunciation: karn bahn
Quick facts
- Height
- 248m/ 814ft
- Grid ref
- NM 72153 28912
- Nearest city
- Oban· 14km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Start from the lane near Croggan or the head of Loch Spelve and follow open hillside northwest, climbing through tussock and bracken onto the broad ridge. There is no path of consequence — pick a line aiming for the visible cairn and accept some boggy ground. Allow about three hours for the return trip from sea level.
Terrain
Tussocky heather and rough grass dominate, with frequent peat hags on the gentler shoulders. The lower slopes carry old bracken cover that hides ankle-twisting boulders in summer.
In winter
Snowfall here is light and short-lived but the ground becomes saturated through winter, with hidden iced runnels under the heather. The exposed coast brings frequent gales — pick a calm window between fronts.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 59m
- Edinburgh7h 35m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 359, OS Explorer 375E
Mobile signal: Poor. No EE signal on this remote Mull summit; Tobermory-side has limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:14
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Carn Ban on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
14km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Ban — common questions
- How hard is Carn Ban?
- Carn Ban is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Tussocky heather and rough grass dominate, with frequent peat hags on the gentler shoulders.
- When is the best time to climb Carn Ban?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Ban 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 Carn Ban?
- 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 Ban?
- Poor. No EE signal on this remote Mull summit; Tobermory-side has limited coverage.
- Is Carn Ban safe in winter?
- Snowfall here is light and short-lived but the ground becomes saturated through winter, with hidden iced runnels under the heather. The exposed coast brings frequent gales — pick a calm window between fronts.
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