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
- Grid ref
- NH 39566 59173
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 30km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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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 major networks fail; emergency plans essential.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:19
- Sunset
- 22:20
- Civil dawn
- 03:07
- Civil dusk
- 23:32
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 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
- How hard is Carn Faire nan Con?
- Carn Faire nan Con is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Plantation track lower down then trackless heather and grass once clear of the trees.
- When is the best time to climb Carn Faire nan Con?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Faire nan Con 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 Faire nan Con?
- 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 Faire nan Con?
- Poor. All major 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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