Beinn a' Mheadhoin [Beinn a' Mheadhain]

Sitting as the central link in the trio of Red Hills overlooking the coast, this granite dome offers a rugged, pathless ascent over characteristic red scree. It serves as a spectacular grandstand for the jagged profile of the Black Cuillin and the sea-lanes of Loch Slapin and the Inner Hebrides.

• •The name is derived from Scottish Gaelic, translating as 'Mountain of the Middle,' which refers to its central position between the neighbouring peaks of Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg.
• •Unlike the dark, jagged gabbro of the Black Cuillin, this hill is composed of granophyre; this pinkish-red granite weathers into the smooth, rounded slopes and loose scree typical of the eastern Skye hills.
• •The summit offers a peerless view across Loch Slapin to the massive, dark wall of Blà Bheinn, providing one of the best perspectives on the geological transition between the Red and Black Cuillin.
• •It is frequently climbed as the centrepiece of a three-peak circuit starting from the old marble quarries near Broadford, a route that avoids the technical scrambling found elsewhere on the island but requires significant stamina.
• •The descent via the western scree slopes is often more of a controlled vertical slide than a walk, providing an efficient, if noisy, way to lose height while ensuring your boots are thoroughly filled with granite grit.