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.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: David Bremner / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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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
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
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%

GPX needed

Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

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.

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

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Cnoc an t-Sabhail. 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

Glasgow5h 2m
Edinburgh5h 25m

OS maps: OS Landranger 21, OS Explorer 438W

Mobile signal: Poor. Remote NW Sutherland; limited coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

13h 10mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:11
Sunset: 19:04
Civil dawn: 06:33
Civil dusk: 19:43

NOAA Solar Calculator · 27 September 2026

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Around Cnoc an t-Sabhail on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Inverness

Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North

37km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Balblair

Edderton — Easter Ross distillery with vintage-led range

5km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

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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