Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Creag Loisgte
Creag Loisgte — the burnt crag — is a 415m hill at NH 367 957 in the heather moors north of Lairg. The Gaelic name reflects the dark, fire-scorched appearance of the summit cliff, where lichen and heather give the rock a charred look in low sun.
Quick facts
- Height
- 415m/ 1362ft
- Prominence
- 177 m
- Grid ref
- NH 36764 95775
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 59km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · rocky slopes 30% · grass slopes 15%
Approached from the Strath Oykel road at Doune, with 4km of open hillside walking before the final climb up the south-east ridge. No paths; expect rough heather throughout. Around 4 hours.
Terrain
Moine schist with a low east-facing crag that gives the hill its character. Below the crag the ground is heather and peat; above, a sloping grassy plateau leads to a small summit cairn set well back from the cliff edge.
In winter
Low enough that snow rarely persists, but cornices form on the burnt crag in cold easterlies — keep well back from the edge in winter. The plateau itself is exposed and the wind chill can be severe.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 29m
- Edinburgh7h 31m
OS maps: OS Landranger 20, OS Explorer 440S
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal absent; Ben Hope / Ben Loyal area has limited mobile infrastructure.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:08
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 04:14
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Creag Loisgte on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag Loisgte — common questions
- What difficulty is Creag Loisgte?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Creag Loisgte comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Moine schist with a low east-facing crag that gives the hill its character.
- How much drop does Creag Loisgte have?
- The drop is 177m: measured from the summit of Creag Loisgte 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 Creag Loisgte?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Creag Loisgte. 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 Creag Loisgte?
- 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 Creag Loisgte?
- Poor. Signal absent; Ben Hope / Ben Loyal area has limited mobile infrastructure.
- Is Creag Loisgte safe in winter?
- Low enough that snow rarely persists, but cornices form on the burnt crag in cold easterlies — keep well back from the edge in winter. The plateau itself is exposed and the wind chill can be severe.
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