Scotland
Hill of Clais nan Earb
524M
1719FT
About Hill of Clais nan Earb
Rising from the Strathaird peninsula on Skye, this 524-metre Hump offers a quieter, rougher alternative to the island's famous peaks. The approach is often boggy and pathless, but the summit provides a magnificent, earned perspective of Blà Bheinn and the Red Cuillin ridges across the deep waters of Loch Slapin.
Key Statistics
Rank
103rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
115m
Nearest Town
Dufftown
Geology
You are walking over hard, durable quartzite and fine-grained, layered rocks. These sturdy materials create the rugged foundation of the hill beneath your feet.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NJ328330
Latitude
57.3825°N
Longitude
3.1185°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Clais nan Earb, meaning the "hollow of the roe deer," likely referring to the sheltered depressions on its flanks where deer find cover from the Atlantic winds.
- •Situated between Loch Slapin and Loch Eishort, the summit provides an exceptional profile view of the Black Cuillin, particularly the dramatic, shattered eastern face of the Munro Blà Bheinn.
- •Despite its modest elevation, its classification as a Hump signifies it has over 100 metres of prominence, making it a distinct and independent landmark on the Strathaird skyline.
- •The ascent offers a comprehensive education in Skye's peat bogs, providing a landscape that is frequently more liquid than solid until you reach the firmer ground of the summit.