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Marilyn · islands

Carn Ghaltair [Cairn Galtar]

The name means 'cairn' in Gaelic. A 207m prominence hill on the Isle of Barra at the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides. Despite the modest height, the 150m prominence means this summit commands its surroundings with views that surprise first-time visitors.

Gaelic: “stony, cairn-topped hill” · Pronunciation: karn

Quick facts

Height
207m/ 679ft
Difficulty
1 / 5Easy
Grid ref
NL 64037 91530

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Standard route

GPX coming soon

Standard route

A short, accessible walk on island paths with sea views in multiple directions to the 207m summit. The low altitude and gentle gradients make this achievable in 1-3 hours.

Terrain

Mixed island landscape with coastal rock, peat and grass. The sea is visible from most points on the walk.

In winter

Island winters are mild but stormy. Snow is rare at low levels. The main winter challenge is short daylight and frequent gales.

Best time of year

Getting there

  • Glasgow9h 52m
  • Edinburgh11h 28m

OS maps: OS Landranger 31, OS Explorer 452S

Current conditions

Daylight Today

17h 06mwalking daylight
Sunrise
05:41
Sunset
21:14
Civil dawn
04:54
Civil dusk
22:00

NOAA Solar Calculator · 2 May 2026

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