Marilyn · Argyll
Cruach na Seilcheig
Cruach na Seilcheig is the 380m Stack of the Snail, an obscure Marilyn hidden in the forested country between Loch Avich and Loch Melfort. The name suggests slow, deliberate progress is the order of the day.
Quick facts
- Height
- 380m/ 1247ft
- Prominence
- 207 m
- Grid ref
- NM 85447 11048
- Nearest city
- Oban· 19km
- 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 and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Most ascents start from minor roads or forest car parks in the surrounding plantations. Forestry tracks shorten the approach but the final pull is over rough, pathless ground; allow 3 to 4 hours.
Terrain
Heavily forested lower slopes need careful route choice through plantation rides. Above the trees the ground is wet heather and bog with occasional outcrop.
In winter
Mild winter conditions are usual but plantation tracks can be sheets of ice in cold weather. Disorientation in the dense forest is a real risk in low cloud.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 17m
- Edinburgh6h 56m
OS maps: OS Landranger 55, OS Explorer 359, OS Explorer 360S
Mobile signal: Poor. Dead zone; signal only returns near the main road or nearest village.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:36
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:26
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cruach na Seilcheig on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
19km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cruach na Seilcheig — common questions
- How difficult is Cruach na Seilcheig?
- Cruach na Seilcheig carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Heavily forested lower slopes need careful route choice through plantation rides.
- How much drop does Cruach na Seilcheig have?
- The drop is 207m: measured from the summit of Cruach na Seilcheig 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 na Seilcheig?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Cruach na Seilcheig. 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 na Seilcheig?
- 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 na Seilcheig?
- Poor. Dead zone; signal only returns near the main road or nearest village.
- Is Cruach na Seilcheig safe in winter?
- Mild winter conditions are usual but plantation tracks can be sheets of ice in cold weather. Disorientation in the dense forest is a real risk in low cloud.
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