Marilyn · argyll
Carn Duchara
Carn Duchara is a remote 491m summit south-east of Kilmelford, deep in the inner Argyll wilds. The hill is genuinely lonely — you can easily walk a full day without seeing another soul.
Quick facts
- Height
- 491m/ 1611ft
- Grid ref
- NM 89280 10267
- Nearest city
- Oban· 20km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Approach via the long estate track from the B840 along Loch Avich, or from the south near Loch Tralaig, leaving the track to climb pathless heather to the cairn. Expect a 5 to 6 hour return on either line.
Terrain
Long stretches of estate track give straightforward going, but the final ascent crosses extensive bog, tussocky heather and small lochans that force diversions.
In winter
A long, exposed day in poor weather. Burns can flood in winter rain and bog freezes unpredictably. Best left for shorter spring days or settled autumn weather.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 8m
- Edinburgh6h 46m
OS maps: OS Landranger 55, OS Explorer 360S
Mobile signal: Poor. No reliable signal; remote mid-Argyll glen gives zero coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:12
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 23:15
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Carn Duchara 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
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
20km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Duchara — common questions
- How hard is Carn Duchara?
- Carn Duchara is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Long stretches of estate track give straightforward going, but the final ascent crosses extensive bog, tussocky heather and small lochans that force diversions.
- When is the best time to climb Carn Duchara?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Duchara 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 Duchara?
- 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 Duchara?
- Poor. No reliable signal; remote mid-Argyll glen gives zero coverage.
- Is Carn Duchara safe in winter?
- A long, exposed day in poor weather. Burns can flood in winter rain and bog freezes unpredictably. Best left for shorter spring days or settled autumn weather.
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