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
- Grid ref
- NG 22443 42077
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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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
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:26
- Civil dawn
- 03:18
- Civil dusk
- 23:36
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 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
- How hard is Healabhal Bheag?
- Healabhal Bheag is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Boggy moorland on the approach with a steep grassy headwall to gain the plateau.
- When is the best time to climb Healabhal Bheag?
- The standard good-weather months for Healabhal Bheag 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 Healabhal Bheag?
- 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 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.
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