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
- Grid ref
- NC 33221 61437
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
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.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
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
- Sunrise
- 04:11
- Sunset
- 22:29
- Civil dawn
- 02:51
- Civil dusk
- 23:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Ghlas-bheinn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Ghlas-bheinn — common questions
- How hard is Ghlas-bheinn?
- Ghlas-bheinn is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Cambrian quartzite slabs cap a Lewisian gneiss base.
- When is the best time to climb Ghlas-bheinn?
- The standard good-weather months for Ghlas-bheinn 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 Ghlas-bheinn?
- 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 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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