Scotland
Beinn Dhubh
506M
1660FT
About Beinn Dhubh
Rising to 506 metres, this Scottish Marilyn is a significant high point within the Northern Isles. Classified as both a Hump and a Tump, the hill offers a sense of genuine isolation and scale. It provides a rewarding objective for hillwalkers looking to explore the rugged, windswept terrain characteristic of the region.
Key Statistics
Rank
33rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Northern Isles
Prominence
?
493m
Nearest Town
Losgaintir
Geology
The path beneath you is made of solid granite from the Harris Igneous Complex. Look for large, chunky crystals that formed as molten stone cooled deep underground.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NB089006
Latitude
57.8999°N
Longitude
6.9142°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Beinn Dhubh translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Black Hill'. While this is one of the most common descriptive names found across the Scottish Highlands, it is a linguistic outlier in the Northern Isles, where the vast majority of landscape features retain names rooted in Old Norse.
- •To be classified as a Marilyn, a hill must have a prominence of at least 150 metres on all sides. This topographic independence ensures the summit of Beinn Dhubh feels like a primary destination, offering unobstructed views that aren't crowded out by higher neighbouring peaks.
- •At 506 metres, the hill also qualifies as a Hump (a hill with a hundred-metre prominence). This makes it a significant undertaking in an island context, where the lack of sheltered valleys often exposes walkers to the full force of the weather coming off the North Atlantic.
- •Naming a Scottish peak Beinn Dhubh is a tradition of staggering commonality; there are dozens of 'Black Hills' across the country, though very few sit at this specific height within the Northern Isles.