Scotland
Arnaval
369M
1211FT
About Arnaval
Sitting on the Minginish peninsula, this modest Marilyn offers a tranquil alternative to the jagged Cuillin nearby. Its broad, heathery slopes provide straightforward walking, rewarding visitors with an expansive panorama of Loch Bracadale’s islands and the dramatic western face of the Black Cuillin ridge across the depths of Glen Brittle.
Key Statistics
Rank
230th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
193m
Nearest Town
Portnalong
Geology
Arnaval is built from ancient volcanic lava flows belonging to the Gleann Oraid Formation. These rocks create the foundation you are walking on today.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NG345316
Latitude
57.2982°N
Longitude
6.4086°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a relic of Norse influence on Skye; the suffix '-val' derives from fjall (mountain), while 'Arna' likely refers to the White-tailed Sea Eagle, or 'Erne', marking it as a historic lookout for these birds.
- •The summit serves as an exceptional grandstand for viewing the Cuillin; from here, the northern peaks of Sgùrr nan Gillean and Bruach na Frithe appear in profile without the foreshortening often seen from the glens.
- •Looking west towards the coast, the view includes the Macleod’s Maidens—three distinct sea stacks standing off the cliffs of Idrigill Point.
- •The hill is frequently climbed as part of a longer moorland circuit taking in its neighbour, Stockval, providing a sense of isolation that is harder to find on the more popular mountain paths further south.
- •Arnaval is the sort of hill where you can enjoy the majesty of the Cuillin in total silence, a luxury rarely afforded to those actually standing on the Cuillin themselves.