Marilyn · Cairngorms
Lord Arthur's Hill
Lord Arthur's Hill stands at 518m above the upper Don, an unassuming Aberdeenshire summit named after a long-dead local landowner. A grouse-shooting hill of heather and bilberry with a wide-open feel and a fine outlook to Bennachie.
Quick facts
- Height
- 518m/ 1699ft
- Prominence
- 265 m
- Grid ref
- NJ 51340 19791
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 45km
- 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 70% · grass slopes 20% · rocky summit 10%
A track from the minor road south of Towie climbs steadily through managed heather moor onto the rounded summit plateau. Around 7-8km return on mostly good underfoot, taking 2.5-3 hours. The cairn is set back from the rim.
Terrain
Land Rover tracks form the bulk of the ascent — good walking. Short pathless heather across the summit. Drainage is reasonable but boggy after prolonged rain.
In winter
Open and exposed, but with the estate track providing a clear line of ascent in snow. Wind chill is the dominant winter hazard rather than depth of cover.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 12m
- Edinburgh4h 32m
OS maps: OS Landranger 37, OS Explorer 062E, OS Explorer 420E
Mobile signal: Patchy. EE flickers up top; better toward Inverurie.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:29
- Sunset
- 21:05
- Civil dawn
- 04:41
- Civil dusk
- 21:52
NOAA Solar Calculator · 11 August 2026
Around Lord Arthur's Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Stonehaven station
Dunnottar Castle; Aberdeenshire coast; Mearns walking country
49km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Dufftown
Speyside whisky town in the eastern Cairngorms
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: The Glenlivet
Ballindalloch — the first legal distillery under the 1823 Excise Act
26km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Lord Arthur's Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Lord Arthur's Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Lord Arthur's Hill comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Ground conditions: Land Rover tracks form the bulk of the ascent — good walking.
- How much drop does Lord Arthur's Hill have?
- The drop is 265m: measured from the summit of Lord Arthur's 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 Lord Arthur's Hill?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Lord Arthur's 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 Lord Arthur's 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 Lord Arthur's Hill?
- Patchy. EE flickers up top; better toward Inverurie.
- Is Lord Arthur's Hill safe in winter?
- Open and exposed, but with the estate track providing a clear line of ascent in snow. Wind chill is the dominant winter hazard rather than depth of cover.
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