Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Sgurr na Dubh-chreige
Sgurr na Dubh-chreige — the peak of the black crag — is just 197m high but a fully fledged Marilyn on the rocky Arisaig peninsula near Loch nan Ceall. The summit is a knot of dark gneiss with an outlook over the Small Isles that belies the modest height.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, of the, black” · Pronunciation: skoor na doo chreige
Quick facts
- Height
- 197m/ 646ft
- Grid ref
- NM 69066 93775
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 46km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%
From the B8008 near Arisaig village, head north on a track and then over open hillside to the cairn. Short and easy, mostly on grippy gneiss with occasional bog. Under 2 hours and a useful winter day option when the higher hills are unreachable.
Terrain
Knobbly Lewisian gneiss — small slabs and ribs separated by deep heather pockets and tiny lochans. Underfoot dryer than most coastal Marilyns thanks to free-draining rock.
In winter
At 197m on the open coast, winter is effectively a non-issue. The dark gneiss can ice in cold spells; otherwise this is a year-round walk and a useful day when the inland hills are storm-bound.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 57m
- Edinburgh7h 16m
OS maps: OS Landranger 40, OS Explorer 398W
Mobile signal: Reasonable. The Arisaig coastal masts give good signal on the summit.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:19
- Civil dawn
- 03:21
- Civil dusk
- 23:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Sgurr na Dubh-chreige on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Sgurr na Dubh-chreige — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr na Dubh-chreige?
- Sgurr na Dubh-chreige is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Knobbly Lewisian gneiss — small slabs and ribs separated by deep heather pockets and tiny lochans.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr na Dubh-chreige?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr na Dubh-chreige 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 Sgurr na Dubh-chreige?
- 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 Sgurr na Dubh-chreige?
- Reasonable. The Arisaig coastal masts give good signal on the summit.
- Is Sgurr na Dubh-chreige safe in winter?
- At 197m on the open coast, winter is effectively a non-issue. The dark gneiss can ice in cold spells; otherwise this is a year-round walk and a useful day when the inland hills are storm-bound.
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