Marilyn · Argyll
Creachan Dubh
Creachan Dubh — the Little Black Stack — is a 470m Marilyn marooned in the forests and lochans of Knapdale. The hill rewards walkers who tolerate wet feet with profound silence and views over a tangled Argyll seascape.
Gaelic: “black” · Pronunciation: creachan doo
Quick facts
- Height
- 470m/ 1542ft
- Prominence
- 177 m
- Grid ref
- NS 01579 91059
- Nearest city
- Oban· 42km
- 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%
No recognised path exists. Most parties follow forestry tracks above Tayvallich before striking across rough moorland for the final kilometre. Map and compass essential — features are subtle and the ground deceives. Allow 3-4 hours round trip.
Terrain
Thick wet heather, peat hags and tussock grass dominate. Forestry tracks help for the first part of the approach but soon peter out into trackless bog.
In winter
Low-lying and rarely snowbound, but in winter the bog deepens and becomes near-impossible. A summer outing is far more sensible than a winter one here.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 29m
- Edinburgh5h 11m
OS maps: OS Landranger 55, OS Explorer 362N
Mobile signal: Poor. No network gets through on this remote Knapdale summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:34
- Civil dawn
- 04:31
- Civil dusk
- 22:24
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Creachan Dubh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creachan Dubh — common questions
- How hard is Creachan Dubh?
- We grade Creachan Dubh at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Underfoot: Thick wet heather, peat hags and tussock grass dominate.
- What is Creachan Dubh's prominence?
- 177m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Creachan Dubh 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 Creachan Dubh?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Creachan Dubh. 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 Creachan Dubh 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 Creachan Dubh?
- Poor. No network gets through on this remote Knapdale summit.
- Is Creachan Dubh safe in winter?
- Low-lying and rarely snowbound, but in winter the bog deepens and becomes near-impossible. A summer outing is far more sensible than a winter one here.
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