Scotland
Carn nam Bad
458M
1503FT
About Carn nam Bad
Rising above the northern reaches of the Kyle of Sutherland, this broad, heather-clad Marilyn offers a rugged, pathless ascent. It is a lonely spot that feels more remote than its modest height suggests, providing excellent, unobstructed views across the Dornoch Firth and toward the distant, isolated peaks of Ben Klibreck and Ben Armine.
Key Statistics
Rank
250th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
212m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
The ground beneath you belongs to the Tarvie Psammite Formation, featuring a hardy type of compressed sandstone known for its gritty, durable texture.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH401339
Latitude
57.3676°N
Longitude
4.6592°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Càrn nam Bad', which translates to the 'cairn of the clumps' or 'thickets', likely referring to specific patches of scrub or woodland that once dotted its lower slopes.
- •Despite being under 500 metres high, its classification as a Marilyn—a hill with at least 150 metres of prominence—ensures it commands a wide, panoramic perspective over the surrounding Easter Ross and Sutherland moorlands.
- •The summit offers a specific vantage point over the convergence of the Rivers Oykel and Carron as they flow into the Kyle of Sutherland.
- •The ascent is a masterclass in Sutherland 'rough walking', where the absence of a defined path ensures you will become intimately acquainted with every variety of peat hag and heather root the region has to offer.