Marilyn · Kintail
Glas Bheinn
Glas Bheinn — the grey-green hill, one of many of the name — is a 397m summit on the Glenelg peninsula above Loch Alsh. It looks straight across the kyle to the Skye bridge and gives a remarkable view of the south Skye Cuillin in clear weather.
Gaelic: “grey-green” · Pronunciation: glass bheinn
Quick facts
- Height
- 397m/ 1302ft
- Prominence
- 221 m
- Grid ref
- NG 82165 22729
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 87km
- 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
rocky ridge 40% · heather moorland 35% · grass slopes 25%
A short outing from the unclassified road over Mam Ratagan, breaking off west onto the heather slopes and following the broad ridge to the cairn. Sometimes paired with a longer round to Beinn nan Caorach. About 2 hours from the road.
Terrain
Open hill of short heather, grass and small schist outcrops. The Mam Ratagan side is drier than the southern flank; the broad ridge to the summit is easy walking once clear of the roadside drainage ditch.
In winter
A coastal 397m summit that takes wind off the kyle. Snow is rarely a problem; ice on the road over Mam Ratagan is more likely to scupper the day than conditions on the hill. Spikes for verglas above 300m in cold spells.
Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 1m
- Edinburgh7h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 33, OS Explorer 413N
Mobile signal: Reasonable. Signal across the kyle to Skye and from Kyleakin masts; the summit area has line of sight to several transmitters.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:17
- Sunset
- 19:10
- Civil dawn
- 06:39
- Civil dusk
- 19:48
NOAA Solar Calculator · 27 September 2026
Around Glas Bheinn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Glas Bheinn — common questions
- What difficulty is Glas Bheinn?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Glas Bheinn comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Open hill of short heather, grass and small schist outcrops.
- How much drop does Glas Bheinn have?
- The drop is 221m: measured from the summit of Glas 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 Glas Bheinn?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Glas 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 Glas 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 Glas Bheinn?
- Reasonable. Signal across the kyle to Skye and from Kyleakin masts; the summit area has line of sight to several transmitters.
- Is Glas Bheinn safe in winter?
- A coastal 397m summit that takes wind off the kyle. Snow is rarely a problem; ice on the road over Mam Ratagan is more likely to scupper the day than conditions on the hill. Spikes for verglas above 300m in cold spells.
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