Marilyn · Argyll
Cruach Lerags
Cruach Lerags is the modest 252m high point of the rolling country between Oban and Kilninver. The ascent is brief but the panorama, from Mull right round to Cruachan, rewards visitors out of all proportion to the effort.
Quick facts
- Height
- 252m/ 827ft
- Prominence
- 217 m
- Grid ref
- NM 83814 25733
- Nearest city
- Oban· 5km
- 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
forestry tracks 30% · heather moorland 45% · rocky summit 25%
Park near Lerags House and follow the public road south before turning up onto open hillside via felled forestry. Allow about an hour and a half to the cairn and back.
Terrain
Bracken and bramble down low yield to cropped heather and outcropping schist near the top. Forestry operations have left some churned ground best skirted.
In winter
Almost always snow-free at this elevation. Frosty mornings firm up the bog, which is the most welcome time to visit.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 30m
- Edinburgh6h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 359
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE hit and miss; better toward Oban.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:37
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cruach Lerags on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cruach Lerags — common questions
- How hard is Cruach Lerags?
- We grade Cruach Lerags at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Ground conditions: Bracken and bramble down low yield to cropped heather and outcropping schist near the top.
- How much drop does Cruach Lerags have?
- The drop is 217m: measured from the summit of Cruach Lerags 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 Cruach Lerags?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Cruach Lerags. 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 Cruach Lerags?
- 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 Cruach Lerags?
- Moderate. EE hit and miss; better toward Oban.
- Is Cruach Lerags safe in winter?
- Almost always snow-free at this elevation. Frosty mornings firm up the bog, which is the most welcome time to visit.
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