Marilyn · Kintail
Carn Faire nan Con
Carn Faire nan Con — the dog-watch cairn, where stalkers and their dogs once kept a lookout — rises to 370m at NH 395 591 on the Strathconon plateau above Loch Achilty. A modest height but the position gives a notable view over the lower Conon valley to the Black Isle.
Gaelic: “cairn-topped hill, of the, dog” · Pronunciation: karn faire nan kon
Quick facts
- Height
- 370m/ 1214ft
- Prominence
- 239 m
- Grid ref
- NH 39566 59173
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 30km
- 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%
From the forestry car park at Loch Achilty, climb west through Forestry and Land Scotland plantations onto open ground. The summit cairn is reached after a short steep pull across heather. Allow 2 hours.
Terrain
Plantation track lower down then trackless heather and grass once clear of the trees. The summit dome is broad and flat-topped with one small cairn visible from afar.
In winter
A low Ross-shire hill rarely heavily snowed. The forestry start is sheltered and remains walkable in most conditions; the open ground above can be wind-scoured but seldom requires winter tools.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 37m
- Edinburgh6h 45m
OS maps: OS Landranger 26, OS Explorer 437S
Mobile signal: Poor. All the big networks fail; emergency plans essential.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:46
- Sunset
- 19:43
- Civil dawn
- 06:07
- Civil dusk
- 20:22
NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026
Around Carn Faire nan Con on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
16km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
30km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
16km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Faire nan Con — common questions
- Is Carn Faire nan Con a hard climb?
- Carn Faire nan Con is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Plantation track lower down then trackless heather and grass once clear of the trees.
- How much drop does Carn Faire nan Con have?
- The drop is 239m: measured from the summit of Carn Faire nan Con down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Carn Faire nan Con?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn Faire nan Con. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Carn Faire nan Con?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Carn Faire nan Con?
- Poor. All the big networks fail; emergency plans essential.
- Is Carn Faire nan Con safe in winter?
- A low Ross-shire hill rarely heavily snowed. The forestry start is sheltered and remains walkable in most conditions; the open ground above can be wind-scoured but seldom requires winter tools.
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