We grade Knockan at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Underfoot: Farm tracks lead onto well-managed grouse moor.

What is Knockan's prominence?

179m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Knockan to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

When is the best time to climb Knockan?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Knockan. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Knockan dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Steven Brown / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Cairngorms

Knockan

A 372m heather knoll between the lower Spey and the Deveron, sitting in the rolling whisky country of central Banffshire. Modest in altitude but with enough prominence to give the summit cairn a genuine outlook over the woods and farms of Strathisla.

Quick facts

Height: 372m/ 1220ft
Prominence: 179 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NJ 35101 46471
Nearest city: Inverness· 68km
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

heather moorland 70% · grass slopes 20% · rocky summit 10%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

From the unclassified road south of Drummuir, follow farm tracks past Tomnamoon then strike directly up the heather to the broad summit. Around 4km return with 200m of ascent — a brisk hour and a half.

Terrain

Farm tracks lead onto well-managed grouse moor. The summit slopes are short, dry heather with occasional peat patches but little serious bog.

In winter

Snow generally settles only in patches but the heather can mat treacherously when frosted. Useful as a short outing on days when higher hills are out of condition.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Knockan. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow5h 13m
Edinburgh4h 2m

OS maps: OS Landranger 28, OS Explorer 424S

Mobile signal: Signal is good; EE rarely drops. Fine Strathisla viewpoint.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 15mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:40
Sunset: 19:36
Civil dawn: 06:01
Civil dusk: 20:16

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around Knockan on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Aviemore station

Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore

56km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Dufftown

Speyside whisky town in the eastern Cairngorms

7km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Glenfiddich

Dufftown — the world's best-selling single malt; visitor centre on the Speyside Way

7km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Knockan — common questions

How hard is Knockan?: We grade Knockan at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Underfoot: Farm tracks lead onto well-managed grouse moor.
What is Knockan's prominence?: 179m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Knockan to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
When is the best time to climb Knockan?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Knockan. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Knockan dog-friendly?: 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 Knockan?: Signal is good; EE rarely drops. Fine Strathisla viewpoint.
Is Knockan safe in winter?: Snow generally settles only in patches but the heather can mat treacherously when frosted. Useful as a short outing on days when higher hills are out of condition.

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