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.

By Gary Innes

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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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
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
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%

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Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

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.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Mile Hill. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

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

17h 03mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:32
Sunset: 21:03
Civil dawn: 04:46
Civil dusk: 21:49

NOAA Solar Calculator · 11 August 2026

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Around Mile Hill on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Dundee station

Glens of Angus; Lochnagar via Glen Doll; V&A waterfront

29km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Dunkeld

Southern Cairngorms gateway — Hermitage, Loch of the Lowes

32km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

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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