Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Orval
Orval is a 571m peak in the west of the Isle of Rum, away from the main Cuillin ridge but giving the best vantage point onto it. The Norse name points to Rum's Viking heritage and the hill's open west-facing aspect.
Quick facts
- Height
- 571m/ 1873ft
- Prominence
- 406 m
- Grid ref
- NM 33370 99101
- 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
igneous rock 50% · heather moorland 30% · grassy hollows 20%
From Kinloch follow the track west into Glen Shellesder, then climb the long heather-and-rock east ridge to the summit. Around 15 km return, plan a full day from Rum's only village.
Terrain
Rum's distinctive ultrabasic rock — peridotite and gabbro — gives excellent friction when dry. The walk-in crosses bog and grass before reaching the ridge.
In winter
Ferry timetable from Mallaig limits winter access. Snow rarely deep but the long approach in short daylight rules out winter day-trips for most.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 17m
- Edinburgh9h 44m
Ferry access
Mallaig → Rum (Loch Scresort)
- Crossing time90 min
- Summer sailingsMon, Wed, Fri, Sat (Apr–Oct)
- Winter sailingsMon & Thu only (Nov–Mar)
- Book ahead28 days
No cars permitted on Rum — foot passengers only. Overnight stay at Kinloch Castle bunkhouse or campsite strongly recommended.
Book on CalMac ↗OS maps: OS Landranger 39, OS Explorer 397
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Rum; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:28
- Civil dusk
- 22:36
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Orval on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Orval — common questions
- What difficulty is Orval?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Orval comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Underfoot: Rum's distinctive ultrabasic rock — peridotite and gabbro — gives excellent friction when dry.
- What is Orval's prominence?
- 406m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Orval 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 Orval?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Orval. 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 Orval 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 Orval?
- Poor. Remote Rum; limited coverage.
- How do I get the ferry to Orval?
- Mallaig → Rum (Loch Scresort). Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat (Apr–Oct) in summer; Mon & Thu only (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 28 days ahead. No cars permitted on Rum — foot passengers only. Overnight stay at Kinloch Castle bunkhouse or campsite strongly recommended.
- Is Orval safe in winter?
- Ferry timetable from Mallaig limits winter access. Snow rarely deep but the long approach in short daylight rules out winter day-trips for most.
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