Scotland
Cruach Scarba
450M
1476FT
About Cruach Scarba
Rising abruptly from the Sound of Jura, this rugged peak dominates the uninhabited island of Scarba. Characterised by steep, pathless slopes of heather and scree, it offers a truly wild experience. Reaching the summit requires a private charter but rewards walkers with a unique perspective on the nearby Corryvreckan Whirlpool.
Key Statistics
Rank
54th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
450m
Nearest Town
Blackmill Bay
Geology
You are walking on quartzite rock. You may also notice bands of volcanic rock, known as lamprophyre, cutting through the landscape.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM690044
Latitude
56.1767°N
Longitude
5.7222°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is of Old Norse origin, likely meaning 'sharp, stony, hilly terrain' or 'cormorant island', a fitting description for a peak that rises so steeply from the Atlantic.
- •From the summit, you look directly down into the Gulf of Corryvreckan to the south, where the world's third-largest whirlpool churns in the narrow strait between Scarba and the island of Jura.
- •Despite its status as a Marilyn, the hill sits on an island with no permanent residents since the 1960s, though it remains home to a significant herd of red deer and hardy Luing cattle.
- •On a clear day, the summit provides an exceptional panorama of the Southern Hebrides, with the Paps of Jura visible to the south and the Garvellachs and Mull across the Firth of Lorne to the north.
- •Given the lack of a scheduled ferry service, the hardest part of the climb is usually the negotiation with a boatman from Luing or Craobh Haven to secure a landing on the island’s rugged shore.