Marilyn · Argyll
Cnoc nam Broighleag
Cnoc nam Broighleag — the Knoll of the Blaeberries — is a 314m Marilyn on the Cowal peninsula, where carpets of blaeberry plants give the late-summer slopes a faintly purple tinge.
Quick facts
- Height
- 314m/ 1030ft
- Prominence
- 160 m
- Grid ref
- NR 94013 93723
- Nearest city
- Oban· 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).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Quiet forestry roads from the B836 near the Loch Striven shore give the most reliable approach. Above the trees a short pull on heather gains the summit; reckon on 2 to 3 hours for the round.
Terrain
Plantation tracks, mossy clear-fell ground and a final heather-and-blaeberry summit dome. The going is wetter than it looks on the map.
In winter
Forest tracks can be sheets of ice in cold weather; the open hill is usually free of lying snow but exposed to gales. A short day suits this hill in midwinter daylight.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 49m
- Edinburgh6h 30m
OS maps: OS Landranger 55, OS Explorer 358N, OS Explorer 362N
Mobile signal: Poor. No provider covers this remote summit. GPS tracker recommended.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:21
- Sunset
- 21:35
- Civil dawn
- 04:31
- Civil dusk
- 22:24
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cnoc nam Broighleag on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cnoc nam Broighleag — common questions
- Is Cnoc nam Broighleag a hard climb?
- Cnoc nam Broighleag is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Plantation tracks, mossy clear-fell ground and a final heather-and-blaeberry summit dome.
- How much drop does Cnoc nam Broighleag have?
- The drop is 160m: measured from the summit of Cnoc nam Broighleag down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Cnoc nam Broighleag?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Cnoc nam Broighleag. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Cnoc nam Broighleag?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Cnoc nam Broighleag?
- Poor. No provider covers this remote summit. GPS tracker recommended.
- Is Cnoc nam Broighleag safe in winter?
- Forest tracks can be sheets of ice in cold weather; the open hill is usually free of lying snow but exposed to gales. A short day suits this hill in midwinter daylight.
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