Scotland
Cairnagour Hill
743M
2438FT
About Cairnagour Hill
Rising above the head of Loch Slapin, this rounded peak offers a softer alternative to the jagged Black Cuillin. Its grassy slopes contrast with the steep red scree of neighbouring Beinn Dearg Mhòr. From the summit, you gain an excellent, clear-eyed perspective across the water to the Blà Bheinn ridge and the Small Isles.
Key Statistics
Rank
11th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
80m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are walking across striped metamorphic sandstones and dark, carbon-rich rocks. Touches of ancient, hardened molten rock also form the rugged terrain beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NJ325056
Latitude
57.1370°N
Longitude
3.1161°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a corruption of the Gaelic Càrn a' Choire Ghuirm, meaning the 'Hill of the Blue Corrie,' a reference to the deep, shadowed hue of the northern bowl, Coire Gorm.
- •It is most frequently climbed as part of a high-level circuit taking in the neighbouring peaks of Beinn Dearg Mhòr and Beinn Dearg Bheag, starting from the road near Torrin.
- •The summit offers a particularly fine profile of the Great Stone Shoot on Blà Bheinn and a spectacular view down the length of Loch Slapin toward the island of Rum.
- •Despite being a significant island height, many walkers inadvertently bypass the actual summit while navigating the more famous scree slopes of the surrounding Red Hills.