How hard is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich?

We grade Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Underfoot: Heather, rough grass and outcropping sandstone, with wet ground in the hollows.

What is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich's prominence?

165m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

When is the best time to climb Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Mick Garratt / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · North-West Highlands

Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich

Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich is a 543m hill on the peninsula between Little Loch Broom and Loch Broom in Wester Ross (NH 066 930), above the crofting township of Badrallach and just south-east of Beinn Ghobhlach. It looks across Loch Broom to Ullapool and over Little Loch Broom to An Teallach.

Quick facts

Height: 543.3m/ 1782ft
Prominence: 165 m
Difficulty: 2 / 5Moderate
Grid ref: NH 06604 93030
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).

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Standard route

heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Reach the peninsula on the single-track road to Badrallach, which leaves the A832 near Dundonnell at the head of Little Loch Broom. There is no made path to the summit; study the map and pick a line up through the heather and rock from the road.

Terrain

Heather, rough grass and outcropping sandstone, with wet ground in the hollows. No path to the top.

In winter

At 543m the top can hold snow and ice in a cold spell, and the peninsula catches every Atlantic front. Check the wind forecast as well as the freezing level.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich. 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

Glasgow6h 51m
Edinburgh7h 20m

OS maps: OS Landranger 19, OS Explorer 435N

Mobile signal: Poor. Expect patchy coverage on the peninsula.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

10h 43mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:25
Sunset: 16:45
Civil dawn: 06:43
Civil dusk: 17:26

NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026

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Around Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Lairg station

Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland

53km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Ullapool

Main NW Highlands hub; Hebrides ferry; Inverpolly access

6km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich — common questions

How hard is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich?: We grade Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Underfoot: Heather, rough grass and outcropping sandstone, with wet ground in the hollows.
What is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich's prominence?: 165m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
When is the best time to climb Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich dog-friendly?: 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 Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich?: Poor. Expect patchy coverage on the peninsula.
Is Cnoc a' Bhaid-rallaich safe in winter?: At 543m the top can hold snow and ice in a cold spell, and the peninsula catches every Atlantic front. Check the wind forecast as well as the freezing level.

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