What difficulty is Ghlas-bheinn?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ghlas-bheinn comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Cambrian quartzite slabs cap a Lewisian gneiss base.

How much drop does Ghlas-bheinn have?

The drop is 156m: measured from the summit of Ghlas-bheinn 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 Ghlas-bheinn?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Ghlas-bheinn. 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 Ghlas-bheinn?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Colin Kinnear / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · North-West Highlands

Ghlas-bheinn

Ghlas-bheinn — the grey-green hill — is a 333m summit at NC 332 614 on the Cape Wrath peninsula east of Loch Eriboll. The Gaelic refers to the pale grey-green colour of its moss and lichen-covered summit slabs, distinct from the heather brown of the surrounding moor.

Gaelic: “grey-green” · Pronunciation: glass bheinn

Quick facts

Height: 333m/ 1093ft
Prominence: 156 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NC 33221 61437
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 and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%

GPX needed

Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Approached from the A838 at the head of Loch Eriboll, with a 4km walk-in across moor and bog before the final climb. The summit slabs are obvious on the skyline. A 4-5 hour day.

Terrain

Cambrian quartzite slabs cap a Lewisian gneiss base. The summit is a tilted slab pavement of pale rock heavily colonised by grey-green lichen — the colour that names the hill. Surrounding bog is deep and wet.

In winter

Verglas on the slab summit is the main winter hazard — the smooth quartzite becomes lethally slippery after thaw refreezes. Snow itself is intermittent at this altitude near the coast.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ghlas-bheinn. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow7h 2m
Edinburgh8h 55m

OS maps: OS Landranger 9, OS Explorer 446

Mobile signal: Poor. No networks. Carry a personal locator beacon on this remote Sutherland summit.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 20mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:46
Sunset: 19:44
Civil dawn: 06:05
Civil dusk: 20:25

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around Ghlas-bheinn on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Durness

Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in

9km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Ghlas-bheinn — common questions

What difficulty is Ghlas-bheinn?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ghlas-bheinn comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Cambrian quartzite slabs cap a Lewisian gneiss base.
How much drop does Ghlas-bheinn have?: The drop is 156m: measured from the summit of Ghlas-bheinn 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 Ghlas-bheinn?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Ghlas-bheinn. 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 Ghlas-bheinn?: 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 Ghlas-bheinn?: Poor. No networks. Carry a personal locator beacon on this remote Sutherland summit.
Is Ghlas-bheinn safe in winter?: Verglas on the slab summit is the main winter hazard — the smooth quartzite becomes lethally slippery after thaw refreezes. Snow itself is intermittent at this altitude near the coast.

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