Cnoc an t-Sabhail

About Cnoc an t-Sabhail

Rising above the Dornoch Firth in Easter Ross, this rounded Marilyn offers a straightforward ascent through forestry and heather. While modest in height, its isolated position provides an expansive vantage point over the Cromarty Firth and the distant, hulking mass of Ben Wyvis to the south.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Cnoc an t-Sabhail', meaning 'Hill of the Barn'. In a landscape usually named for more rugged features, this likely refers to the hill’s proximity to fertile agricultural land on the lower slopes near Edderton.
• •The summit is an exceptional viewpoint for the northern Highlands; on a clear day, the distinctive profile of Ben Klibreck is visible to the north, while the Dornoch Firth bridge stretches out below like a needle across the water.
• •Despite its lowly 380-metre stature, it qualifies as a Marilyn because it drops at least 150 metres on all sides, making it a prominent landmark for travellers heading north toward the Struie.
• •The ascent typically utilizes well-maintained forestry tracks from the west, which eventually give way to the more traditional Highland terrain of pathless heather near the trig pillar.
• •It is a hill of two halves: the lower slopes are a study in modern forestry management, while the top remains a classic mix of peat, wind, and the faint hope that the clouds will stay high enough to see Sutherland.