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
- Grid ref
- NJ 51340 19791
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 45km
- 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% · 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.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 12m
- Edinburgh4h 32m
OS maps: OS Landranger 37, OS Explorer 062E, OS Explorer 420E
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better toward Inverurie.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:14
- Sunset
- 22:10
- Civil dawn
- 03:04
- Civil dusk
- 23:19
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 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
- How hard is Lord Arthur's Hill?
- Lord Arthur's Hill is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Land Rover tracks form the bulk of the ascent — good walking.
- When is the best time to climb Lord Arthur's Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Lord Arthur's Hill 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 Lord Arthur's Hill?
- 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 Lord Arthur's Hill?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; 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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