Scotland
Beinn Thunacaraidh
648M
2126FT
About Beinn Thunacaraidh
Rising above the moors of central Skye, this rugged Tump offers a quieter alternative to the neighbouring Cuillin. The ascent involves navigating typically boggy ground before reaching a summit that provides a spectacular, uncluttered perspective of the jagged Sgùrr nan Gillean ridge and the distant shapes of Macleod’s Tables.
Key Statistics
Rank
76th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
35m
Nearest Town
Argyll and Bute
Geology
You are walking on a foundation of volcanic ash and rocky debris, layered with cooled magma from Mull's ancient volcanic center.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM660368
Latitude
56.4658°N
Longitude
5.7992°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Thunacaraidh. While Beinn means mountain, caraidh often refers to a weir or a rocky ledge, likely describing the hill's shelf-like appearance when viewed from the direction of Glen Brittle.
- •To the west, the summit provides a clear sightline across the Minch toward the Outer Hebrides on a clear day, with the distinctive flat-topped shapes of Macleod’s Tables dominating the foreground across Loch Bracadale.
- •Unlike the nearby jagged gabbro of the Black Cuillin, the terrain here is defined by classic Skye moorland, requiring a steady trudge through peat and heather that keeps the summit quiet even during the height of the summer season.