Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Glas Bheinn Mhor
Glas Bheinn Mhor rises east of Loch Slapin on the Strathaird peninsula, a 569m grey-green dome looking straight across to Bla Bheinn and the Black Cuillin. The walk is a quiet alternative to the Cuillin crowds.
Gaelic: “grey-green, big” · Pronunciation: glass bheinn vore
Quick facts
- Height
- 569m/ 1867ft
- Prominence
- 188 m
- Grid ref
- NG 55392 25751
- 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 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%
Start near Kilmarie or the head of Loch Slapin and climb the broad north-east ridge over rough grass and rock. The summit reveals a panoramic view of Bla Bheinn, Marsco and out to Rum. Around 8 km return.
Terrain
Pathless heather, peat hags and boilerplate basalt slabs make navigation slow. Boots cope better than approach shoes on the loose upper ground.
In winter
Snow rarely lingers but freezing rain glazes the slabs. Strong westerlies funnel up Loch Slapin and make the ridge feel exposed even at modest height.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 54m
- Edinburgh8h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 411, OS Explorer 412
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Inner Hebrides or Skye; signal absent on summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:25
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Glas Bheinn Mhor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door
11km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Glas Bheinn Mhor — common questions
- Is Glas Bheinn Mhor a hard climb?
- Glas Bheinn Mhor is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Pathless heather, peat hags and boilerplate basalt slabs make navigation slow.
- How much drop does Glas Bheinn Mhor have?
- The drop is 188m: measured from the summit of Glas Bheinn Mhor 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 Glas Bheinn Mhor?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Glas Bheinn Mhor. 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 Glas Bheinn Mhor?
- 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 Glas Bheinn Mhor?
- Poor. Remote Inner Hebrides or Skye; signal absent on summit.
- Is Glas Bheinn Mhor safe in winter?
- Snow rarely lingers but freezing rain glazes the slabs. Strong westerlies funnel up Loch Slapin and make the ridge feel exposed even at modest height.
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