Ben Geary

Tucked away on the Waternish peninsula, this modest Marilyn offers a rugged, pathless ascent through classic Skye moorland. Despite its low elevation, the summit provides an expansive vantage point over the Minch towards the Outer Hebrides and a clear profile of the MacLeod’s Tables to the south.

• •The name is derived from the nearby township of Geary, which stems from the Old Norse word gerði, meaning an enclosed field or garth.
• •As the highest point on the Waternish peninsula, its isolation grants it the status of a Marilyn, despite being less than 300 metres tall.
• •The hill looks down upon the ruins of Trumpan Church, where a notorious 16th-century feud between the MacLeods and MacDonalds culminated in the Battle of the Spoiled Dyke.
• •While the climb is short, the terrain is notoriously boggy; a successful ascent usually involves as much horizontal navigation around peat hags as it does vertical climbing.