Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Meall a' Chaise
Meall a' Chaise — "hill of the steep place" — is a 372m moorland summit in the NC65 grid square between Lairg and Tongue, on the long watershed forming the spine of central Sutherland.
Quick facts
- Height
- 372m/ 1220ft
- Prominence
- 205 m
- Grid ref
- NC 65116 11903
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 67km
- 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
blanket bog 55% · heather moorland 30% · grassy summit 15%
Approach from the A836 north of Lairg via the Crask Inn area, then strike pathless east across the moor to the cairn. Allow 4 hours round trip.
Terrain
Saturated peat moorland with intermittent quartz reefs. A steep little band on the southwest gives the hill its Gaelic name.
In winter
The Crask Inn becomes a useful staging post in winter. Snow can drift across the A836 making access uncertain after storms.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 44m
- Edinburgh6h 11m
OS maps: OS Landranger 16, OS Explorer 443
Mobile signal: Very poor. No signal on summit or descent. Only coverage near Lairg or Tongue.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:05
- Sunset
- 21:42
- Civil dawn
- 04:10
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Meall a' Chaise on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Lairg station
Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ullapool
Main NW Highlands hub; Hebrides ferry; Inverpolly access
55km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Balblair
Edderton — Easter Ross distillery with vintage-led range
26km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall a' Chaise — common questions
- How hard is Meall a' Chaise?
- We grade Meall a' Chaise at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Terrain: Saturated peat moorland with intermittent quartz reefs.
- How prominent is Meall a' Chaise?
- Meall a' Chaise has 205m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I climb Meall a' Chaise?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall a' Chaise 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 Meall a' Chaise?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Meall a' Chaise?
- Very poor. No signal on summit or descent. Only coverage near Lairg or Tongue.
- Is Meall a' Chaise safe in winter?
- The Crask Inn becomes a useful staging post in winter. Snow can drift across the A836 making access uncertain after storms.
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