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
- Grid ref
- HY 20992 03366
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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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
- 04:01
- Sunset
- 22:27
- Civil dawn
- 02:37
- Civil dusk
- 23:52
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Cuilags on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cuilags — common questions
- How hard is Cuilags?
- Cuilags is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Heather and bilberry give way to bare red sandstone near the top, with occasional crags on the west flank.
- When is the best time to climb Cuilags?
- The standard good-weather months for Cuilags are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Cuilags?
- 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 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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