Scotland
Knockan
372M
1220FT
About Knockan
Rising above the Waternish peninsula in northern Skye, this Marilyn offers a rugged moorland ascent away from the island's more congested peaks. While the terrain can be characteristically boggy, the summit provides a clear perspective over the Minch toward the Outer Hebrides and the distant, jagged profile of the Trotternish Ridge.
Key Statistics
Rank
216th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Skye
Prominence
?
179m
Nearest Town
Dufftown
Geology
You are walking on a base of tough quartzite and dark, flaky schist. These resilient rocks form the rugged foundation of the Knockan fell.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NJ351464
Latitude
57.5038°N
Longitude
3.0847°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a simple anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic An Cnocan, which translates as 'the little hill'—a modest title for the highest point on the Waternish peninsula.
- •Standing as a Marilyn, it possesses over 150 metres of prominence, ensuring that the views east toward the Old Man of Storr and the Quirang are entirely unobstructed.
- •Looking west across the Minch, the summit offers an exceptional vantage point for spotting the chain of the Outer Hebrides, including the distinct silhouettes of Harris and North Uist.
- •The approach from the road end at Geary involves navigating a landscape of heather and peat hags that, in a typical Hebridean summer, can turn a short walk into a stern test of waterproof footwear.