Marilyn · moray
Hill of the Wangie
A curiously named 319m hill in the rolling country west of Forres, with the Wangie itself a small wooded scarp at the summits eastern end. Local folklore tells of fairy gatherings on its top at midsummer — improbable, but the place has a quiet otherworldly feel on a still evening.
Quick facts
- Height
- 319m/ 1047ft
- Grid ref
- NJ 13668 53733
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 48km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 70% · grass slopes 20% · summit area 10%
From the Califer viewpoint car park, a permissive path threads through plantation before opening onto sandy heath leading to the trig. A 3km circuit takes barely an hour.
Terrain
Free-draining sandy soil under birch and Scots pine, with the summit knoll capped by an exposed rocky bluff. Excellent footing in all but the wettest conditions.
In winter
A reliable low-level walk in any weather, with the woods offering shelter from the brisk Moray Firth winds. Snow rarely persists below 300m on this part of the coast. The Wangie itself can be slick if frosted.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 53m
- Edinburgh4h 14m
OS maps: OS Landranger 28, OS Explorer 423
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better toward Moray coast.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:14
- Sunset
- 22:15
- Civil dawn
- 03:02
- Civil dusk
- 23:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Hill of the Wangie on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Tain station
Easter Ross — Ben Wyvis approach, Glenmorangie distillery
46km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Dufftown
Speyside whisky town in the eastern Cairngorms
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Cardhu
Knockando — sweet Speysider and core of Johnnie Walker blends
11km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Hill of the Wangie — common questions
- How hard is Hill of the Wangie?
- Hill of the Wangie is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Free-draining sandy soil under birch and Scots pine, with the summit knoll capped by an exposed rocky bluff.
- When is the best time to climb Hill of the Wangie?
- The standard good-weather months for Hill of the Wangie 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 Hill of the Wangie?
- 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 Hill of the Wangie?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better toward Moray coast.
- Is Hill of the Wangie safe in winter?
- A reliable low-level walk in any weather, with the woods offering shelter from the brisk Moray Firth winds. Snow rarely persists below 300m on this part of the coast. The Wangie itself can be slick if frosted.
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