Sub-Marilyn · Argyll
Cruach Bhuidhe
Cruach Bhuidhe, the Yellow Stack, is a 568m Cowal summit between Loch Goil and Loch Long. The yellow tinge of the late-summer hill grass gives the name and the rocky top makes a fine viewpoint over the Arrochar Alps.
Quick facts
- Height
- 568.4m/ 1865ft
- Prominence
- 149 m
- Grid ref
- NS 12527 94699
- Nearest city
- Oban· 44km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Sub-Marilyn: 149m of drop — misses the 150m Marilyn cut by 1m. We keep it on the list as a near-miss.
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
A track from Carrick Castle on Loch Goil climbs through forestry before bracken slopes lead up onto the south-east ridge. Allow about four hours for the return.
Terrain
Forest road, then bracken-choked hillside in summer giving way to short heather and grass on the upper ridge. Loose rock around the summit cairn.
In winter
Snow squalls common in deep winter. Treat as a small mountain rather than a fell when conditions are wintry.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 5m
- Edinburgh5h 44m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56, OS Explorer 0037N, OS Explorer 363N
Mobile signal: Poor. Knapdale/Kintyre border; EE absent. Tarbert is the nearest coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:19
- Sunset
- 21:34
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:23
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cruach Bhuidhe on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Gourock station
Ferry to Dunoon and Kilcreggan; Inverclyde coast walks
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
30km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cruach Bhuidhe — common questions
- What difficulty is Cruach Bhuidhe?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Cruach Bhuidhe comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Underfoot: Forest road, then bracken-choked hillside in summer giving way to short heather and grass on the upper ridge.
- What is Cruach Bhuidhe's prominence?
- 149m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Cruach Bhuidhe to the next higher ground. That leaves it 1m short of the 150m drop a Marilyn needs — DoBIH classes it a sub-Marilyn, a near-miss rather than a full Marilyn.
- When is the best time to climb Cruach Bhuidhe?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Cruach Bhuidhe. 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 Cruach Bhuidhe 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 Cruach Bhuidhe?
- Poor. Knapdale/Kintyre border; EE absent. Tarbert is the nearest coverage.
- Is Cruach Bhuidhe safe in winter?
- Snow squalls common in deep winter. Treat as a small mountain rather than a fell when conditions are wintry.
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