Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Meall a' Mhaoil
Meall a' Mhaoil is a quiet 284m rounded top in north-east Skye between Portree and Staffin, often overlooked in favour of the nearby Trotternish ridge. The summit gives a fine perspective on the Storr from a different angle.
Quick facts
- Height
- 284m/ 932ft
- Prominence
- 155 m
- Grid ref
- NG 55388 30765
- 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 55% · rocky slopes 30% · grass slopes 15%
Access from the A855 north of Portree, climbing pathless moorland to the broad summit dome. A short 3-4 km return outing with modest ascent.
Terrain
Open peat moor with shallow hags and clumps of heather. Boggy in sections after rain but no real obstacles.
In winter
Stays mostly snow-free. Often a good wind-shelter alternative when the Storr ridge is being pummelled by westerlies.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 59m
- Edinburgh8h 13m
OS maps: OS Landranger 24, OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 410, OS Explorer 411
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Skye/Inner Hebrides; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:45
- Civil dawn
- 04:24
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Meall a' Mhaoil on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
15km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door
6km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall a' Mhaoil — common questions
- How difficult is Meall a' Mhaoil?
- Meall a' Mhaoil carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Open peat moor with shallow hags and clumps of heather.
- What is Meall a' Mhaoil's prominence?
- 155m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall a' Mhaoil 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 Meall a' Mhaoil?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall a' Mhaoil. 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 Meall a' Mhaoil 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 Meall a' Mhaoil?
- Poor. Remote Skye/Inner Hebrides; limited coverage.
- Is Meall a' Mhaoil safe in winter?
- Stays mostly snow-free. Often a good wind-shelter alternative when the Storr ridge is being pummelled by westerlies.
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