Maol Ban

About Maol Ban

Rising above the Sound of Sleat near Kyleakin, this rounded Marilyn offers a quieter alternative to Skye’s jagged peaks. Its heathery slopes lead to a summit with commanding views across the water to the mainland giants of Knoydart and Beinn Sgritheall, framed by the nearby Skye Bridge.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Maol Bàn. Maol denotes a rounded, bare hill—literally 'bald'—while bàn translates as white or fair, likely referring to the pale hue of the moorland grasses that cover its slopes.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for watching maritime traffic through the Sound of Sleat, with the rugged peaks of the Knoydart peninsula, including Ladhar Bheinn, dominating the eastern horizon.
• •Located near the entrance to the island at Kyleakin, the hill serves as a prominent landmark for sailors navigating the narrows between Skye and the mainland, sitting just south of the historic lighthouse.
• •For those looking to avoid the crowds of the Cuillin, Maol Ban offers a rare perspective of the Skye Bridge from above, looking down on the engineering feat that replaced the ferry crossing in 1995.
• •While visitors to the Cuillin spend their time worrying about vertical drops, the greatest danger on Maol Ban is merely losing a boot to the enthusiastic local peat bogs.