Beinn Shiantaidh

As the second-highest of the three Paps of Jura, this cone of unstable quartzite scree offers a punishing but rewarding ascent. Its steep flanks are notorious for shifting underfoot, but the summit provides unparalleled views across the Sound of Jura towards the Kintyre Peninsula and the neighbouring Beinn an Òir.

• •The name is Scottish Gaelic for 'holy mountain', likely referencing the peak's status as a prominent landmark for early travellers moving between the monasteries of the Hebrides.
• •The mountain is constructed primarily of Jura Quartzite, a rock so hard and nutrient-poor that very little vegetation grows on the upper slopes, leaving the peak a stark, pale grey.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point over Loch Tàrbert, a long sea loch that nearly bisects the island, leaving only a narrow neck of land connecting the north and south.
• •To the south-east, the view extends across the Sound of Jura to the long spine of the Kintyre Peninsula and the jagged skyline of the Isle of Arran.
• •Despite its status as the 'holy mountain', the relentless 45-degree scree slopes are a place where hikers are more likely to find a burst boot than a spiritual epiphany.