Glamaig - Sgurr Mhairi

About Glamaig - Sgurr Mhairi

Rising as a near-perfect cone of unstable scree directly above Sligachan, this northernmost Red Cuillin peak offers a notoriously steep, relentless ascent. While the scree slopes are punishing, the narrow summit ridge of Sgurr Mhàiri provides a grandstand view across the Sound of Raasay and the jagged, dark peaks of the Black Cuillin.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Sgùrr Mhàiri, or Mary's Peak, is said to commemorate a local woman who climbed the hill regularly, while Glamaig itself likely derives from the Gaelic for a 'devouring' or 'grasping' mouth, perhaps referencing how the mountain dominates the skyline.
• •In 1889, a Gurkha named Harkabir Tharpa completed a round trip from the Sligachan Inn to the summit and back in 55 minutes; legend suggests he performed the feat in bare feet, and his record remained unbeaten for nearly a century.
• •The hill is famous for its 'treadmill' effect, where the loose red granite scree on the western face often results in walkers sliding one step back for every two steps taken upward.
• •While the western face is a brutal scramble, a gentler approach from Sconser follows the 'whaleback' ridge over the secondary summit of An Coileach, which translates from Gaelic as The Cockerel.
• •The summit provides a distinct vantage point of the Black Cuillin, offering clear views of the Great Stone Chute on Sgùrr Alasdair and the distinctive flat-topped summits of Macleod's Tables in the distance to the west.
• •Despite its status as one of only two Corbetts on Skye, the sheer gradient and shifting terrain ensure the ascent feels considerably more taxing than its 775-metre height suggests.