Marilyn · Orkney & Shetland
Cuilags
Cuilags is the northern Marilyn of Hoy, a sharp-edged sandstone hill that rises straight from the shore of Hoy Sound. Its 435m summit is separated from Ward Hill by a deep glen and gives some of the finest views of any Orcadian top.
Quick facts
- Height
- 435m/ 1427ft
- Prominence
- 319 m
- Grid ref
- HY 20992 03366
- 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 60% · rocky slopes 25% · grass slopes 15%
Starting from Moaness pier or the Sandy Loch road, walkers climb the broad east ridge over heather and sandstone, then a steeper pull to the cairn. The route can be combined with Ward Hill for a long traverse.
Terrain
Heather and bilberry give way to bare red sandstone near the top, with occasional crags on the west flank. Drier underfoot than the peat moors but steeper than appearances suggest.
In winter
Cuilags can hold patches of snow into spring and the upper sandstone tilts can ice. Pick a settled day; the Stromness ferry to Hoy is the limiting factor in winter weather.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow8h 13m
- Edinburgh8h 40m
Ferry access
Scrabster → Stromness (Orkney)
- Crossing time90 min
- Summer sailings3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailings2 sailings daily (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead7 days
- Last ferry backCheck NorthLink timetable — last sailing back varies seasonally
Alternative: Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay → St Margaret's Hope (1h, more frequent) or Aberdeen → Kirkwall overnight. Hoy hills are a further short inter-island ferry hop from Stromness.
Book on ferry operator ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 7, OS Explorer 462
Mobile signal: Poor. Hoy island, Orkney; EE absent on this summit. Ferry from Stromness required.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:56
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 03:59
- Civil dusk
- 22:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Cuilags on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cuilags — common questions
- How difficult is Cuilags?
- Cuilags carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Heather and bilberry give way to bare red sandstone near the top, with occasional crags on the west flank.
- How much drop does Cuilags have?
- The drop is 319m: measured from the summit of Cuilags 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 Cuilags?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Cuilags. 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 Cuilags?
- 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 Cuilags?
- Poor. Hoy island, Orkney; EE absent on this summit. Ferry from Stromness required.
- How do I get the ferry to Cuilags?
- Scrabster → Stromness (Orkney). 3 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 2 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Alternative: Pentland Ferries from Gills Bay → St Margaret's Hope (1h, more frequent) or Aberdeen → Kirkwall overnight. Hoy hills are a further short inter-island ferry hop from Stromness.
- Is Cuilags safe in winter?
- Cuilags can hold patches of snow into spring and the upper sandstone tilts can ice. Pick a settled day; the Stromness ferry to Hoy is the limiting factor in winter weather.
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