Marilyn · Kintail
Carn nan Iomairean
Carn nan Iomairean — the cairn of the ridges — stands at 485m at NG 914 351 above Killilan at the head of Loch Long. The Gaelic name fits the corrugated profile of small parallel ridges that ripple across its broad summit area.
Quick facts
- Height
- 485m/ 1591ft
- Prominence
- 227 m
- Grid ref
- NG 91426 35192
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 76km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
From the Killilan road end at the head of Loch Long, take the estate track up Gleann Choillich for about a kilometre then strike east up the rough hillside. Around 3.5 hours for the up-and-back.
Terrain
Stalkers' path for a short distance then trackless. The parallel ridges of the upper hill funnel water into peaty hollows; pick a line on the small grassy rises between hags to keep boots cleaner.
In winter
A coastal Wester Ross hill where Atlantic warmth keeps the snowline high. Expect wet, slippery slabs of grass-over-rock more often than firm snow. Trekking pole more useful than ice axe most weeks.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 0m
- Edinburgh7h 56m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25, OS Explorer 429
Mobile signal: Poor. Little reliable signal; EE fails at the Kinlochewe or Torridon junction.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:14
- Sunset
- 21:42
- Civil dawn
- 04:21
- Civil dusk
- 22:35
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Carn nan Iomairean on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Carn nan Iomairean — common questions
- What difficulty is Carn nan Iomairean?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn nan Iomairean comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Stalkers' path for a short distance then trackless.
- How much drop does Carn nan Iomairean have?
- The drop is 227m: measured from the summit of Carn nan Iomairean 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 nan Iomairean?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn nan Iomairean. 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 nan Iomairean?
- 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 nan Iomairean?
- Poor. Little reliable signal; EE fails at the Kinlochewe or Torridon junction.
- Is Carn nan Iomairean safe in winter?
- A coastal Wester Ross hill where Atlantic warmth keeps the snowline high. Expect wet, slippery slabs of grass-over-rock more often than firm snow. Trekking pole more useful than ice axe most weeks.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.