Marilyn · Cairngorms
Knock Hill
A 430m isolated lump rising above the rolling farmland of north-east Aberdeenshire between Keith and Huntly. The position out in the open arable country gives the summit trig an unusually wide horizon — Bennachie, the Cairngorm plateau and the Moray Firth all visible on a clear day.
Quick facts
- Height
- 430m/ 1411ft
- Prominence
- 303 m
- Grid ref
- NJ 53708 55145
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 63km
- 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
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
A short, sharp pull from the road at NJ535540, with about 200m of ascent on a clear track and grassy hillside. Allow ninety minutes for the 3km round trip — perhaps the quickest Marilyn in the north-east.
Terrain
Sheep-cropped grass and a clear track. The summit area is broad and grassy with a triangulation pillar and a small mast. No bog to speak of.
In winter
Easy in light snow but the exposed summit catches the full force of north-easterly gales howling off the Moray Firth. A good winter quick-tick when bigger hills are out.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 52m
- Edinburgh4h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 29, OS Explorer 425N
Mobile signal: Good. Both EE and Vodafone reliable on this exposed Banffshire summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:33
- Civil dawn
- 04:09
- Civil dusk
- 22:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Knock Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Knock Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Knock Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Knock Hill comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Sheep-cropped grass and a clear track.
- How much drop does Knock Hill have?
- The drop is 303m: measured from the summit of Knock Hill 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 Knock Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Knock Hill. 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 Knock Hill?
- 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 Knock Hill?
- Good. Both EE and Vodafone reliable on this exposed Banffshire summit.
- Is Knock Hill safe in winter?
- Easy in light snow but the exposed summit catches the full force of north-easterly gales howling off the Moray Firth. A good winter quick-tick when bigger hills are out.
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