Scotland
Earn Skelly
692M
2270FT
About Earn Skelly
Rising above the head of Glen Tanar, this heathery Mounth summit offers a quieter alternative to the popular nearby Munro, Mount Keen. The terrain is typical of the eastern Highlands—expansive moorland and peat hags. From its 692m crest, you'll see the granite bulk of Lochnagar dominating the skyline to the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
116th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
61m
Nearest Town
Rottal
Geology
The ground here is formed from the Glen Lethnot Grit. These coarse, grainy rocks began as ancient layers of sand and mud.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO436723
Latitude
56.8387°N
Longitude
2.9260°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Iolair' (eagle) and 'Sgeilig' (rock or reef), marking it as the 'Eagle’s Rock'—a fitting title for a hill overlooking the wild, remote reaches of the Glen Tanar Forest.
- •It sits on the edge of the historic Mounth passes; these ancient tracks, such as the nearby Firmounth, served for centuries as the primary routes for drovers and travellers moving between the Angus glens and Deeside.
- •The summit provides a focused view of Mount Keen’s eastern face, alongside a long-distance vista across the wooded lower reaches of the River Dee towards the distant North Sea coast.
- •Navigating the surrounding plateau in mist requires a keen eye for subtle changes in the heather, as the featureless terrain is famous for leading the unwary in circles while searching for the main track.