Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Meall Dola
Meall Dola sits at the southern edge of the deer-haunted moorland between Strath Fleet and the Cassley, rising in long heather slopes above the forestry at the head of Strath Brora. The NC prefix places this firmly in interior Sutherland, where 323m feels considerably higher than it sounds.
Quick facts
- Height
- 323m/ 1060ft
- Grid ref
- NC 62000 06936
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 62km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Approach from the minor road through Strath Brora (NC 64), crossing rough heather and forestry edge to gain the broad south-east ridge. The summit cairn is set on a slight rocky platform with views over Loch Brora to the Easter Ross hills. Around 6 km return with 280m of climb.
Terrain
Tussocky heather and peat hags dominate the lower slopes, with the going firming up onto short grass and scattered gneiss outcrops on the summit dome. A few drainage ditches near the forestry edge need careful crossing after rain.
In winter
Snowline rarely sits below 250m here, so the hill is often walkable in early winter. Hard frost firms up the bog but ice glazes the rock platform near the top; in white-out the featureless plateau demands compass bearings.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 37m
- Edinburgh6h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 16, OS Explorer 441W
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal fails on the approach glen; none on summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:13
- Sunset
- 22:23
- Civil dawn
- 02:58
- Civil dusk
- 23:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Meall Dola 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
4km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ullapool
Main NW Highlands hub; Hebrides ferry; Inverpolly access
51km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Balblair
Edderton — Easter Ross distillery with vintage-led range
23km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall Dola — common questions
- How hard is Meall Dola?
- Meall Dola is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Tussocky heather and peat hags dominate the lower slopes, with the going firming up onto short grass and scattered gneiss outcrops on the summit dome.
- When is the best time to climb Meall Dola?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall Dola 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 Dola?
- 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 Dola?
- Poor. Signal fails on the approach glen; none on summit.
- Is Meall Dola safe in winter?
- Snowline rarely sits below 250m here, so the hill is often walkable in early winter. Hard frost firms up the bog but ice glazes the rock platform near the top; in white-out the featureless plateau demands compass bearings.
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