Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Carn Gorm-loch
The name means 'cairn' in Gaelic. At 909m this is a substantial hill in Strath Oykel in Sutherland. The prominence of at least 150m means the summit stands clear of its neighbours, offering commanding views across Loch Broom to Strath Oykel.
Gaelic: “stony, cairn-topped hill” · Pronunciation: karn
Quick facts
- Height
- 909m/ 2982ft
- Difficulty
- 3 / 5Challenging
- Grid ref
- NH 31897 80069
Download GPX route file
Standard route
Standard route
A hill walk of moderate to high difficulty across the ancient Lewisian gneiss landscape unique to the northwest. The upper slopes steepen near the 909m summit. Allow 3-5 hours for the round trip.
Terrain
Ancient Lewisian gneiss and Torridonian sandstone underfoot — some of the oldest rock in Europe. The terrain is rough and boggy between outcrops.
In winter
Northwest Highland winters are dominated by wind rather than deep snow. The maritime climate brings frequent freeze-thaw. Navigation in low cloud is the primary challenge.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 11m
- Edinburgh6h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20, OS Explorer 436N
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:26
- Sunset
- 21:07
- Civil dawn
- 04:38
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 2 May 2026