Fells/Cruachan Min
Scotland
Cruachan Min
376M
1234FT
Rank
226th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Nearest Town
Cnoc nan Gabhar
About Cruachan Min
Rising above the Duirinish peninsula, this rounded Marilyn offers a quieter alternative to the nearby MacLeod’s Tables. Its smooth, grassy slopes lead to a summit with expansive views over Loch Bracadale’s islands and the jagged Cuillin ridge. It is a steady, uncomplicated climb through typical Skye moorland and heather.
Key Statistics
Rank
226th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Nearest Town
Cnoc nan Gabhar
Prominence
?
261m
Geology
You are walking across basalt, a volcanic rock formed from layers of cooling lava flows within the Mull Lava Group.
Nearby Fells
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Gaelic 'Cruachan', meaning a small stack or conical hill, and 'mìn', meaning smooth or soft, which accurately reflects its gentle profile compared to the more rugged basalt plateaus found elsewhere on Skye.
- •Despite its modest height, it qualifies as a Marilyn due to its isolation, offering a commanding vantage point over the Duirinish coast and the distant Outer Hebrides across the Minch.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a clear perspective of the flat-topped Healabhal Mhòr and Healabhal Bheag, known as MacLeod’s Tables, which dominate the local skyline to the west.
- •The hill sits on the edge of the Orbost Estate; hikers often approach from the south, passing near the remnants of older settlements that speak to the area’s history of crofting and clearance.
- •At exactly 1,234 feet, the hill’s imperial height is suspiciously orderly, though the frequently boggy approach will quickly disabuse any walker of the notion that the terrain is similarly well-organised.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM445217
Latitude
56.3188°N
Longitude
6.1324°W