Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Creag nam Fiadh
Creag nam Fiadh — "deer crag" — is a 387m hill in the NC84 grid square between the upper Helmsdale and Strath Brora. True to its name, red deer are seldom out of sight here.
Quick facts
- Height
- 387m/ 1270ft
- Prominence
- 173 m
- Grid ref
- NC 84109 23703
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 80km
- 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 moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%
Start from the Strath of Kildonan road at Suisgill, follow the burn-side track and climb the heather slopes onto the broad summit ridge. Around 4 hours.
Terrain
Heather and small sandstone crags. The crag faces tend east and are best skirted to the south on descent.
In winter
Cold snaps regularly bring red deer in close to walkers searching for shelter. The crags hold rime; respect frozen sandstone holds if scrambling.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 4m
- Edinburgh6h 8m
OS maps: OS Landranger 17, OS Explorer 444W
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal absent on all networks; remote Sutherland gives no coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:03
- Sunset
- 21:41
- Civil dawn
- 04:08
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Creag nam Fiadh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag nam Fiadh — common questions
- What difficulty is Creag nam Fiadh?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Creag nam Fiadh comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Heather and small sandstone crags.
- How much drop does Creag nam Fiadh have?
- The drop is 173m: measured from the summit of Creag nam Fiadh 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 nam Fiadh?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Creag nam Fiadh. 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 nam Fiadh?
- 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 nam Fiadh?
- Poor. Signal absent on all networks; remote Sutherland gives no coverage.
- Is Creag nam Fiadh safe in winter?
- Cold snaps regularly bring red deer in close to walkers searching for shelter. The crags hold rime; respect frozen sandstone holds if scrambling.
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