Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc an Daimh Mor
Cnoc an Daimh Mor — "hillock of the big stag" — is a 357m heathery knoll in the NC53 grid square between Loch Loyal and Loch Meadie. The name comes from generations of stalking lore.
Gaelic: “small hill, the, big” · Pronunciation: k-nok an daimh more
Quick facts
- Height
- 357m/ 1171ft
- Prominence
- 162 m
- Grid ref
- NC 53311 42707
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 98km
- 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
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Standard route
blanket bog 55% · heather moorland 30% · rocky summit 15%
Easiest from the B873 by Loch Meadie: cross the rough watershed pathless to gain the gentle east shoulder. Roughly 3-4 hours round trip.
Terrain
Bog cotton, reed and mossy peat hummocks on the approach. A small lochan immediately below the summit makes a fine reflection point.
In winter
Frozen bog and a sub-400m summit make this one of the better short winter days in Sutherland. Beware sudden ice on the leeward heather.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 28m
- Edinburgh7h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 10, OS Explorer 447S
Mobile signal: Poor. No networks reach this summit. Emergency plans essential.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:05
- Sunset
- 21:45
- Civil dawn
- 04:09
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cnoc an Daimh Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cnoc an Daimh Mor — common questions
- How difficult is Cnoc an Daimh Mor?
- Cnoc an Daimh Mor carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Bog cotton, reed and mossy peat hummocks on the approach.
- What is Cnoc an Daimh Mor's prominence?
- 162m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cnoc an Daimh Mor 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 an Daimh Mor?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cnoc an Daimh Mor. 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 an Daimh Mor 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 an Daimh Mor?
- Poor. No networks reach this summit. Emergency plans essential.
- Is Cnoc an Daimh Mor safe in winter?
- Frozen bog and a sub-400m summit make this one of the better short winter days in Sutherland. Beware sudden ice on the leeward heather.
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