Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Maiden Pap
Maiden Pap is an instantly recognisable conical 484m peak in the ND04 grid square above Berriedale, and one of the most photographed silhouettes in Caithness. It rises sharply beside its bigger neighbour Morven.
Quick facts
- Height
- 484m/ 1588ft
- Prominence
- 169 m
- Grid ref
- ND 04832 29353
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 92km
- 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
blanket bog 45% · heather moorland 35% · rocky summit 20%
Park at the Braemore road end, follow the well-built track towards Morven, then peel off and take the steep grassy west ridge directly to the cone. Allow 3-4 hours.
Terrain
A short, steep grass and heather climb leads to a small rocky cap. The cone is exposed and ground falls away on all sides from the summit.
In winter
The steep cone holds verglas and wind slab on its upper sections. In full winter conditions it warrants an ice axe even though it is below 500m.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 22m
- Edinburgh6h 2m
OS maps: OS Landranger 11, OS Landranger 17, OS Explorer 444E
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Caithness; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:40
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:36
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Maiden Pap on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Maiden Pap — common questions
- What difficulty is Maiden Pap?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Maiden Pap comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: A short, steep grass and heather climb leads to a small rocky cap.
- How much drop does Maiden Pap have?
- The drop is 169m: measured from the summit of Maiden Pap 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 Maiden Pap?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Maiden Pap. 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 Maiden Pap?
- 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 Maiden Pap?
- Poor. Remote Caithness; limited coverage.
- Is Maiden Pap safe in winter?
- The steep cone holds verglas and wind slab on its upper sections. In full winter conditions it warrants an ice axe even though it is below 500m.
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