Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc Mor
Cnoc Mor — the big knoll — rises modestly to 269m at NH 490 569 above the Black Isle, looking north-west to the Cromarty Firth. The Gaelic name is common but appropriate here — the hill stands clear of its low surroundings and its prominence is what qualifies it as a Marilyn.
Gaelic: “small hill, big” · Pronunciation: k-nok more
Quick facts
- Height
- 269m/ 883ft
- Grid ref
- NH 49028 56945
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 21km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
From the B9163 near Culbokie, a forestry track climbs through commercial spruce to within 200m of the summit. A short final scramble through felled ground brings you to a small cairn. About 1.5-2 hours.
Terrain
Old Red Sandstone covered by glacial till and a mix of commercial forestry and heather. Recent felling has opened views but left rough ground; the summit knoll itself is a small heather patch surrounded by stumps.
In winter
Below 300m and close to the Moray Firth, snow is occasional and brief. The forestry shelter makes this a useful walk on windy days; the recent clear-fell is exposed but only for the last few minutes.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 30m
- Edinburgh5h 27m
OS maps: OS Landranger 26, OS Explorer 437S
Mobile signal: Poor. No signal. The far north coast area has almost no coverage inland.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:18
- Sunset
- 22:19
- Civil dawn
- 03:06
- Civil dusk
- 23:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Cnoc Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
7km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cnoc Mor — common questions
- How hard is Cnoc Mor?
- Cnoc Mor is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Old Red Sandstone covered by glacial till and a mix of commercial forestry and heather.
- When is the best time to climb Cnoc Mor?
- The standard good-weather months for Cnoc Mor are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Cnoc Mor?
- 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 Mor?
- Poor. No signal. The far north coast area has almost no coverage inland.
- Is Cnoc Mor safe in winter?
- Below 300m and close to the Moray Firth, snow is occasional and brief. The forestry shelter makes this a useful walk on windy days; the recent clear-fell is exposed but only for the last few minutes.
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