Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc an t-Sabhail
This second Cnoc an t-Sabhail — knoll of the barn — stands 322m at NH 721 817 on the moor above the Dornoch Firth, the lower of two Sutherland hills sharing the name. The flat-topped profile is unmistakable from the A9 south of Tain.
Quick facts
- Height
- 322m/ 1056ft
- Prominence
- 174 m
- Grid ref
- NH 72158 81704
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 37km
- 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 50% · heather moorland 35% · grassy summit 15%
Approached from the minor road at Edderton, with a vague track running up the south flank. The final pull is open heather to a flat summit; the cairn is small and easily missed. A short 2-3 hour walk.
Terrain
Old Red Sandstone bedrock with thin peat and heather above. The flat summit area is firm grass; the lower flanks hold typical Easter Ross moor with patches of bog around the burns.
In winter
At only 322m and close to the firth, snow is rare and short-lived. Sea fog rolls in on east winds — the flat top loses all landmarks in mist and a compass bearing is the only reliable way off.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 2m
- Edinburgh5h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 21, OS Explorer 438W
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote NW Sutherland; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:36
- Sunset
- 21:07
- Civil dawn
- 04:48
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 August 2026
Around Cnoc an t-Sabhail on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cnoc an t-Sabhail — common questions
- What difficulty is Cnoc an t-Sabhail?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Cnoc an t-Sabhail comes in at 1/5 — easy. Underfoot: Old Red Sandstone bedrock with thin peat and heather above.
- What is Cnoc an t-Sabhail's prominence?
- 174m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cnoc an t-Sabhail 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 t-Sabhail?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cnoc an t-Sabhail. 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 t-Sabhail 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 t-Sabhail?
- Poor. Remote NW Sutherland; limited coverage.
- Is Cnoc an t-Sabhail safe in winter?
- At only 322m and close to the firth, snow is rare and short-lived. Sea fog rolls in on east winds — the flat top loses all landmarks in mist and a compass bearing is the only reliable way off.
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