Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Cnoc nan Cuilean
Cnoc nan Cuilean — "hillock of the whelps" — is a 558m heathery shoulder in the NC59 square, looming above the deer-stalking forest of Loch Loyal. It anchors the southern end of the Ben Loyal massif.
Quick facts
- Height
- 558m/ 1831ft
- Prominence
- 208 m
- Grid ref
- NC 59743 46175
- 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%
Easiest from the Lettermore stalkers track on the east side of Loch Loyal; leave the track near the burn and pick a heather rake to the broad top. Around 5 hours including the return.
Terrain
Knee-deep heather and granite tors on the upper slopes. The lower ground is criss-crossed by deer paths but none lead reliably to the summit.
In winter
The hill catches Atlantic squalls funnelling up Loch Loyal. Wind-blown spindrift can render the granite slabs glass-smooth; respect closed deer stalking from mid-August to late October.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow7h 32m
- Edinburgh7h 2m
OS maps: OS Landranger 10, OS Explorer 447S, OS Explorer 448S
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal completely absent; download offline maps and carry emergency navigation.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:04
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:08
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cnoc nan Cuilean on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cnoc nan Cuilean — common questions
- Is Cnoc nan Cuilean a hard climb?
- Cnoc nan Cuilean is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Knee-deep heather and granite tors on the upper slopes.
- How much drop does Cnoc nan Cuilean have?
- The drop is 208m: measured from the summit of Cnoc nan Cuilean 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 nan Cuilean?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Cnoc nan Cuilean. 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 nan Cuilean?
- 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 nan Cuilean?
- Poor. Signal completely absent; download offline maps and carry emergency navigation.
- Is Cnoc nan Cuilean safe in winter?
- The hill catches Atlantic squalls funnelling up Loch Loyal. Wind-blown spindrift can render the granite slabs glass-smooth; respect closed deer stalking from mid-August to late October.
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