Marilyn · Cairngorms
Creigh Hill
Creigh Hill rises to 498m above the village of Kirriemuir, marking the southern edge of the Braes of Angus. Although low, it is a striking outlier with views directly onto the bigger hills of Glen Clova and Glen Prosen behind, and JM Barries Strathmore birthplace visible to the south.
Quick facts
- Height
- 498.2m/ 1635ft
- Prominence
- 168 m
- Grid ref
- NO 27078 59356
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 32km
- 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 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Park near Glen Uig and follow farm tracks north before climbing through gorse and broom onto open hillside. A clear quad-bike trail leads to the trig pillar; 6km return in about 2 hours.
Terrain
Grazing land lower down, with stiles over fences. Higher up, short turf and exposed conglomerate boulders. Drainage is excellent throughout.
In winter
Snow rarely lies for long on these south-facing slopes. The hill makes a fine winter sunset viewpoint as the Mounth tops catch the late light. Ice on the lower stiles can be a nuisance after frost.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 31m
- Edinburgh2h 59m
OS maps: OS Landranger 53, OS Explorer 381
Mobile signal: Strong summit reception; EE rarely drops. Fine Angus Glens and Strathmore views.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:09
- Sunset
- 21:30
- Civil dawn
- 04:18
- Civil dusk
- 22:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Creigh Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Creigh Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Creigh Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Creigh Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Grazing land lower down, with stiles over fences.
- How much drop does Creigh Hill have?
- The drop is 168m: measured from the summit of Creigh Hill 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 Creigh Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Creigh Hill. 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 Creigh Hill?
- 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 Creigh Hill?
- Strong summit reception; EE rarely drops. Fine Angus Glens and Strathmore views.
- Is Creigh Hill safe in winter?
- Snow rarely lies for long on these south-facing slopes. The hill makes a fine winter sunset viewpoint as the Mounth tops catch the late light. Ice on the lower stiles can be a nuisance after frost.
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