An Coileach

About An Coileach

Rising above the Broadford hinterland, this rounded Red Cuillin peak offers a softer alternative to the jagged Black Cuillin ridge. Its steep, scree-laden slopes of reddish granite lead to a summit with expansive views over the Inner Sound toward the Applecross peninsula and the neighboring silhouettes of Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mhòr.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name translates from Gaelic as 'The Cockerel,' a descriptive term often used in the Highlands for a sharp or prominent point on a ridge.
• •Geologically, the hill is part of the Eastern Red Hills, formed from Granophyre granite; this creates the distinctive rounded profiles and loose, rust-colored scree that differ sharply from the dark gabbro of the nearby Black Cuillin.
• •The summit provides an exceptional perspective on the 'Cuillin Heart,' with particularly clear views of the jagged peaks of Sgùrr nan Gillean and the formidable profile of Blà Bheinn across Strath Mòr.
• •It is frequently climbed as part of a classic Skye circuit known as the Broadford Horseshoe, a demanding trek that links it with its higher neighbors, Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mhòr.
• •The descent is a masterclass in scree-running, though the mountain's red granite has a habit of finding its way into every crevice of your boots by the time you reach the valley floor.