Marilyn · Skye
Healabhal Bheag
Healabhal Bheag is the southern of MacLeod's Tables, the pair of flat-topped basalt mesas that dominate the Duirinish peninsula of west Skye. The NG 22 42 grid puts it inland from Orbost on Loch Bracadale, with its distinctive truncated profile visible for miles along Skye's west coast.
Gaelic: “small” · Pronunciation: healabhal vek
Quick facts
- Height
- 489m/ 1604ft
- Prominence
- 462 m
- Grid ref
- NG 22443 42077
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
grass plateau 50% · heather slopes 35% · rocky cliffs 15%
From the road end at Orbost (NG 25 43) follow the rough track south-west, then climb the open hillside to gain the table-top via the steep north flank. The summit plateau is perfectly flat and rimmed with cliffs on three sides. About 9 km return with 480m of climb.
Terrain
Boggy moorland on the approach with a steep grassy headwall to gain the plateau. The summit itself is among the flattest hilltops in Scotland — short turf and a single trig point.
In winter
The headwall holds snow patches into spring and ices over after thaw-refreeze. The plateau is fully exposed to Atlantic gales, with no shelter once on top.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow7h 17m
- Edinburgh10h 37m
OS maps: OS Landranger 23, OS Explorer 407
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote south Skye; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:19
- Sunset
- 21:47
- Civil dawn
- 04:26
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Healabhal Bheag.
Around Healabhal Bheag 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
55km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
26km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Healabhal Bheag — common questions
- What difficulty is Healabhal Bheag?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Healabhal Bheag comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Boggy moorland on the approach with a steep grassy headwall to gain the plateau.
- How much drop does Healabhal Bheag have?
- The drop is 462m: measured from the summit of Healabhal Bheag 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 Healabhal Bheag?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Healabhal Bheag. 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 Healabhal Bheag?
- 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 Healabhal Bheag?
- Poor. Remote south Skye; limited coverage.
- Is Healabhal Bheag safe in winter?
- The headwall holds snow patches into spring and ices over after thaw-refreeze. The plateau is fully exposed to Atlantic gales, with no shelter once on top.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.