Marilyn · North-West Highlands
An Lean-charn
An Lean-charn ("the slender cairn") stands 521m in the NC41 square deep inside the Naver Forest deer ground, west of Loch Loyal. Few walkers reach it in any year. 521 m — a North-West Highlands hill.
Quick facts
- Height
- 521m/ 1709ft
- Prominence
- 328 m
- Grid ref
- NC 41980 52568
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
blanket bog 60% · heather moorland 25% · rocky summit 15%
The shortest approach uses the Altnaharra-Tongue road, leaving a vehicle near Loch Loyal and crossing the rough watershed pathless to gain the broad summit ridge from the south. Expect 6-7 hours.
Terrain
Deep peat hags and pool systems dominate the long approach. The summit itself is a tidy quartzite cairn on a narrow crest, surprisingly well defined.
In winter
Bog freezes hard from December and becomes much easier to cross when locked solid. Days are too short for safe winter rounds without a bivouac plan.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow7h 46m
- Edinburgh8h 32m
OS maps: OS Landranger 9, OS Explorer 446
Mobile signal: Poor. Very remote north Sutherland; no reliable coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:05
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:09
- Civil dusk
- 22:42
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around An Lean-charn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
An Lean-charn — common questions
- How hard is An Lean-charn?
- We grade An Lean-charn at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Terrain: Deep peat hags and pool systems dominate the long approach.
- How prominent is An Lean-charn?
- An Lean-charn has 328m 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 An Lean-charn?
- The standard good-weather months for An Lean-charn 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 An Lean-charn?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on An Lean-charn?
- Poor. Very remote north Sutherland; no reliable coverage.
- Is An Lean-charn safe in winter?
- Bog freezes hard from December and becomes much easier to cross when locked solid. Days are too short for safe winter rounds without a bivouac plan.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.