Beinn a' Ghraig

Rising above the moors between Loch Snizort and Loch Greshornish, this substantial Marilyn offers a quieter alternative to Skye’s busier peaks. Its heathery slopes provide a rugged, pathless ascent, rewarding walkers with an expansive northern perspective across the Minch toward the distant mountains of Harris and Lewis.

• •Derived from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn a' Ghràig, the name translates as 'Mountain of the Herd' or potentially 'Mountain of the Grudge.' Given the extensive grazing history of the surrounding Waternish and Snizort moors, the former is the more probable local origin.
• •From the summit, the view stretches across the Minch to the unmistakable silhouettes of the Outer Hebrides, specifically the mountains of North Harris and the Uists.
• •To the east, walkers have an excellent profile view of the entire Trotternish Ridge, seeing the dramatic eastern escarpment of The Storr and the Quiraing from a unique, less-photographed angle.
• •The ascent from the Edinbane side involves navigating extensive sections of damp moorland and deep heather, as there are no established tourist paths to the summit.
• •While Skye's more famous Cuillin peaks demand ropes and iron nerves, Beinn a' Ghraig merely asks for high-quality waterproof socks and a total indifference to the sensation of peat hags.