Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Creag Thoraraidh
Creag Thoraraidh is a 404m sandstone bluff in the ND04 grid square just north of Helmsdale, offering a fine prospect over the Caithness coast and the Ord. A 404.5 m top in the North-West Highlands.
Quick facts
- Height
- 404.5m/ 1327ft
- Prominence
- 155 m
- Grid ref
- ND 04062 18749
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 82km
- 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%
Park near Loth on the A9, then follow farm tracks up the Loth Burn before climbing the broad heather flank. Roughly 3-4 hours round trip.
Terrain
Old Red Sandstone outcrops break through dry heather. The lower farm ground is grazed and crossed by stock fences with stiles in places.
In winter
Coast-edge location means snow seldom settles. The main winter issue is mud after thaw on the lower farm tracks.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 8m
- Edinburgh6h 48m
OS maps: OS Landranger 17, OS Explorer 444E
Mobile signal: Poor. All networks fail on this hill; the nearest mast is far away.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:40
- Civil dawn
- 04:07
- Civil dusk
- 22:35
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Creag Thoraraidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creag Thoraraidh — common questions
- Is Creag Thoraraidh a hard climb?
- Creag Thoraraidh is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Old Red Sandstone outcrops break through dry heather.
- How much drop does Creag Thoraraidh have?
- The drop is 155m: measured from the summit of Creag Thoraraidh 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 Thoraraidh?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Creag Thoraraidh. 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 Thoraraidh?
- 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 Thoraraidh?
- Poor. All networks fail on this hill; the nearest mast is far away.
- Is Creag Thoraraidh safe in winter?
- Coast-edge location means snow seldom settles. The main winter issue is mud after thaw on the lower farm tracks.
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