Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir
Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir — "knoll of the big grey clump" — is a 434m heathery rise in the NC75 grid square inland from Loch Naver, near the abandoned settlements of Strath Naver.
Gaelic: “small hill, the, grey” · Pronunciation: k-nok an lee-ah bhaid mhoir
Quick facts
- Height
- 434m/ 1424ft
- Prominence
- 158 m
- Grid ref
- NC 75936 29126
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 84km
- 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
blanket bog 55% · heather moorland 30% · grassy summit 15%
Park near Syre in Strath Naver and follow estate tracks east into the open hill, then climb the broad northeast flank to the cairn. Allow 5 hours.
Terrain
A long flat moor approach with grey lichen-spattered boulders giving the hill its name. The summit area is broad and slightly bouldery.
In winter
Frozen ground is a blessing on the long flat approach. Otherwise expect slow progress through wet heather.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 9m
- Edinburgh6h 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 16, OS Explorer 444W
Mobile signal: Poor. No coverage on this summit; nearest signal near the Kyle of Sutherland.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:43
- Sunset
- 19:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:03
- Civil dusk
- 20:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026
Around Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Helmsdale station
Far North coast; Strath of Kildonan; Flow Country gateway
30km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Durness
Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in
52km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Clynelish
Brora — waxy, coastal-Highland classic on the Far North line
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir — common questions
- Is Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir a hard climb?
- Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: A long flat moor approach with grey lichen-spattered boulders giving the hill its name.
- What is Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir's prominence?
- 158m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir 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 Liath-bhaid Mhoir?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir. 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 Liath-bhaid Mhoir 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 Liath-bhaid Mhoir?
- Poor. No coverage on this summit; nearest signal near the Kyle of Sutherland.
- Is Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir safe in winter?
- Frozen ground is a blessing on the long flat approach. Otherwise expect slow progress through wet heather.
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