Marilyn · Cairngorms
Mile Hill
A blunt 410m heather knoll east of Kirriemuir, sitting at the head of Glen Quharity. Named for being roughly a mile from the nearest farm, Mile Hill is sufficiently obscure to escape almost all walkers — yet its trig pillar offers an uninterrupted prospect along the Sidlaws to the Tay coast.
Quick facts
- Height
- 410m/ 1345ft
- Prominence
- 185 m
- Grid ref
- NO 31137 57137
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 28km
- 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% · summit area 10%
A faint quad-bike trail leaves the public road end at Glen Quharity and climbs gently north-east. Direction-of-travel matters more than path-following; pick a line through the heather to the cairn. Around 5km return in 2 hours.
Terrain
Old muirburn strips alternate with deep heather, with one wettish stretch around a tributary of the Quharity Burn. Generally easy going on managed sporting ground.
In winter
Low elevation keeps this walkable when nearby Mounth tops are buried. A clear winter morning sometimes reveals a temperature inversion with the lowlands fogged below and the snowy Cairngorms above.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 38m
- Edinburgh2h 57m
OS maps: OS Landranger 53, OS Explorer 381
Mobile signal: Solid summit coverage; EE and Vodafone both fine. Fine Angus coast views.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:09
- Sunset
- 21:29
- Civil dawn
- 04:17
- Civil dusk
- 22:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Mile Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Mile Hill — common questions
- How hard is Mile Hill?
- We grade Mile Hill at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Terrain: Old muirburn strips alternate with deep heather, with one wettish stretch around a tributary of the Quharity Burn.
- How prominent is Mile Hill?
- Mile Hill has 185m 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 Mile Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Mile Hill 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 Mile Hill?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Mile Hill?
- Solid summit coverage; EE and Vodafone both fine. Fine Angus coast views.
- Is Mile Hill safe in winter?
- Low elevation keeps this walkable when nearby Mounth tops are buried. A clear winter morning sometimes reveals a temperature inversion with the lowlands fogged below and the snowy Cairngorms above.
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