Beinn Edra

About Beinn Edra

Standing as the highest point on the northern half of the Trotternish Ridge, this hill offers a classic Skye contrast between gentle western slopes and the dramatic, shattered cliffs of the eastern escarpment. It provides a superb vantage point overlooking the Sound of Raasay and the distant mountains of Wester Ross.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Beinn Eadarra, meaning 'the hill in between'. This likely refers to its prominent position on the ridge, situated directly between the coastal settlements of Uig to the west and Staffin to the east.
• •In March 1945, a USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress crashed into the hillside during a ferry flight to Italy. Scars from the impact and weathered fragments of wreckage, including engine parts and twisted fuselage, remain scattered across the slopes today.
• •While the western approach is a straightforward pull up grassy slopes, the summit marks a dramatic change in pace where the land drops away into the Great Basin. It is a significant milestone for those walking the full length of the Trotternish Ridge, located roughly halfway between the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.
• •From the summit trig pillar, the view north follows the spine of the ridge toward the jagged rock formations of the Quiraing, while looking west across the Minch reveals the distinctive profile of the Outer Hebrides.
• •Despite its respectable height and cliff-edge drama, the western ascent consists of so much featureless grass that you may find yourself checking your map simply to confirm you haven't accidentally wandered into a very steep Lowland sheep pasture.