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Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]
Sithean na Raplaich is the highest hill of central Morvern at 551m, its Gaelic name evoking a fairy mound on the rough moor below the summit. The hill is set in genuinely remote country, with views over the empty hinterland of Morvern and out to Mull. Wild goats are sometimes seen here.
Quick facts
- Height
- 551m/ 1808ft
- Prominence
- 523 m
- Grid ref
- NM 63616 51679
- Nearest city
- Oban· 31km
- 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 and bog 55% · rocky slopes 30% · grass slopes 15%
The usual approach is from the A884 north of Lochaline, climbing west through forestry edge and onto open moor. There is no path; aim for the broad summit rise. Around five hours return.
Terrain
Deep peat and heather across the approach, with hidden hags catching the unwary. The summit rise is firmer ground of short grass and weather-broken rock. A wild place to navigate in mist.
In winter
In hard winter the frozen peat hags make for easier walking than summer. Snow accumulates patchily but the lack of features means whiteout navigation is the principal hazard.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 34m
- Edinburgh7h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 383W
Mobile signal: Expect little. EE absent — nearest signal near Corran Ferry or Fort William.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:40
- Civil dawn
- 04:29
- Civil dusk
- 22:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
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Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Tobermory
Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tobermory
Mull — colourful harbour-front distillery making both unpeated and peated (Ledaig) whisky
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich] — common questions
- How hard is Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]?
- We grade Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich] at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Underfoot: Deep peat and heather across the approach, with hidden hags catching the unwary.
- What is Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]'s prominence?
- 523m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich] 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 Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]. 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 Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich] 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 Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich]?
- Expect little. EE absent — nearest signal near Corran Ferry or Fort William.
- Is Sithean na Raplaich [Sidhean na Raplaich] safe in winter?
- In hard winter the frozen peat hags make for easier walking than summer. Snow accumulates patchily but the lack of features means whiteout navigation is the principal hazard.
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