Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc na Maoile
Cnoc na Maoile — "knoll of the bare patch" — stands at 401m in the ND00 grid square inland from Helmsdale, a low hill at the edge of the Caithness Flow Country.
Quick facts
- Height
- 401.1m/ 1316ft
- Prominence
- 153 m
- Grid ref
- ND 00791 21206
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 83km
- 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
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Begin on the small road up the Helmsdale river from Kildonan, cross the Suisgill Burn and climb the heather slopes to the bare summit. Around 4 hours.
Terrain
A few short reaches of stalkers path help on the lower hill. The summit area is notably stony with a bare windscoured patch that gives the hill its name.
In winter
Low enough that snow seldom holds for long but the Helmsdale road can become single-lane with drifted snow. Carry a shovel in winter.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 9m
- Edinburgh6h 53m
OS maps: OS Landranger 17, OS Explorer 444E
Mobile signal: Poor. No coverage at summit or on descent. Download maps offline before visiting.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:40
- Civil dawn
- 04:07
- Civil dusk
- 22:35
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cnoc na Maoile on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cnoc na Maoile — common questions
- Is Cnoc na Maoile a hard climb?
- Cnoc na Maoile is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: A few short reaches of stalkers path help on the lower hill.
- How prominent is Cnoc na Maoile?
- Cnoc na Maoile has 153m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I climb Cnoc na Maoile?
- The standard good-weather months for Cnoc na Maoile 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 na Maoile?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Cnoc na Maoile?
- Poor. No coverage at summit or on descent. Download maps offline before visiting.
- Is Cnoc na Maoile safe in winter?
- Low enough that snow seldom holds for long but the Helmsdale road can become single-lane with drifted snow. Carry a shovel in winter.
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