What difficulty is Carn Fiaclach?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn Fiaclach comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Estate track for the first kilometre, then deep heather and peat hags.

How much drop does Carn Fiaclach have?

The drop is 154m: measured from the summit of Carn Fiaclach 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 Fiaclach?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn Fiaclach. 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 Fiaclach?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Kintail

Carn Fiaclach

Carn Fiaclach — the toothed cairn — rises to 457m at NH 278 272 on the southern fringe of Strathconon. The name refers to the broken rocky teeth of crags that crown the summit, visible from the Orrin reservoir below.

Quick facts

Height: 457m/ 1499ft
Prominence: 154 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NH 27893 27237
Nearest city: Inverness· 43km
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 55% · rocky slopes 30% · grass slopes 15%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

A track from Aultgowrie heads up the Orrin glen; leave it where the ground levels and strike north onto the heather slopes. Pathless above the track but easy navigation in clear weather. Around 3 hours round trip.

Terrain

Estate track for the first kilometre, then deep heather and peat hags. The summit teeth are easily turned on the south side; ground is firmer on the immediate top.

In winter

A low Ross-shire hill that often stays under the snowline. The peat hags freeze hard and make for easier walking; visibility on the broken summit demands map and compass when cloud is down.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Carn Fiaclach. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow4h 3m
Edinburgh6h 33m

OS maps: OS Landranger 25, OS Explorer 415

Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Strathconon/Ross-shire; limited coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 14mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:47
Sunset: 19:43
Civil dawn: 06:08
Civil dusk: 20:22

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around Carn Fiaclach on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Dingwall station

Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines

42km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Inverness

Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North

43km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Carn Fiaclach — common questions

What difficulty is Carn Fiaclach?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn Fiaclach comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Estate track for the first kilometre, then deep heather and peat hags.
How much drop does Carn Fiaclach have?: The drop is 154m: measured from the summit of Carn Fiaclach 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 Fiaclach?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn Fiaclach. 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 Fiaclach?: 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 Fiaclach?: Poor. Remote Strathconon/Ross-shire; limited coverage.
Is Carn Fiaclach safe in winter?: A low Ross-shire hill that often stays under the snowline. The peat hags freeze hard and make for easier walking; visibility on the broken summit demands map and compass when cloud is down.

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