Marilyn · Torridon
Meall an Doirein
Meall an Doirein — the lump of the little grove — stands at 422m at NG 859 754 on the hill ground north of Poolewe. A scrap of native birch survives in the sheltered gully on its eastern flank, giving the hill its name in a largely treeless landscape.
Quick facts
- Height
- 422.7m/ 1387ft
- Prominence
- 297 m
- Grid ref
- NG 85908 75406
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 86km
- 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 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Start from the layby on the A832 north of Poolewe. The walk follows a faint track through wet ground onto the open hillside, then climbs heather to the small summit. Around 3 hours.
Terrain
Boggy ground throughout the lower approach, where peat haggs and small lochans complicate route choice. Heather and short grass on the upper slopes; one or two small Lewisian gneiss outcrops near the top.
In winter
Sea-edge location keeps the summit largely free of lying snow. Storms off the Minch hit hard — wind chill is more of a hazard here than freezing temperatures. Daylight is the binding constraint in winter.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 56m
- Edinburgh8h 43m
OS maps: OS Landranger 19, OS Explorer 433, OS Explorer 434
Mobile signal: Poor. No network gets through on this remote Ross-shire hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:13
- Sunset
- 21:45
- Civil dawn
- 04:19
- Civil dusk
- 22:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Meall an Doirein on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Meall an Doirein — common questions
- What difficulty is Meall an Doirein?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall an Doirein comes in at 1/5 — easy. Terrain: Boggy ground throughout the lower approach, where peat haggs and small lochans complicate route choice.
- How prominent is Meall an Doirein?
- Meall an Doirein has 297m 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 an Doirein?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall an Doirein 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 an Doirein?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Meall an Doirein?
- Poor. No network gets through on this remote Ross-shire hill.
- Is Meall an Doirein safe in winter?
- Sea-edge location keeps the summit largely free of lying snow. Storms off the Minch hit hard — wind chill is more of a hazard here than freezing temperatures. Daylight is the binding constraint in winter.
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