Scotland
Cuilags
435M
1427FT
About Cuilags
Rising steeply from the Glens of Kinnaird on the island of Hoy, this rugged Marilyn offers a quieter, wind-scoured experience than its neighbour, Ward Hill. The terrain is classic moorland, leading the eye toward the sheer red sandstone precipices of St John’s Head and the dark waters of the Pentland Firth.
Key Statistics
Rank
2nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
319m
Nearest Town
Hoy
Geology
You are walking across the Hoy Sandstone Formation. These layers of sandstone form the solid ground beneath your feet.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
HY209033
Latitude
58.9104°N
Longitude
3.3734°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Gaelic 'cùil', meaning a nook or corner, describing the indented 'nooks' of the ridge and the deep glens that carve into the northern end of the island.
- •The hill overlooks St John’s Head, which at 335 metres is among the highest vertical sea cliffs in the British Isles, offering a spectacular and dizzying perspective of the Atlantic breakers below.
- •The moorland slopes are a notorious stronghold for the Great Skua—locally called the 'Bonxie'—a territorial bird famous for intimidating aerial dive-bombing displays against walkers who stray too close to its nesting grounds.
- •Climbing Cuilags is often cited as the best way to see Ward Hill, as it allows you to appreciate the scale of Orkney’s highest peak from a distance while remaining safely on the drier side of the Glens of Kinnaird.