Sgor an h-Iolaire

About Sgor an h-Iolaire

Perched above the majestic Glen Muick, Sgor an h-Iolaire translates to the 'Peak of the Eagle.' It offers grandstand views of the King’s backyard near Balmoral. It’s a modest height, but it provides a peaceful, less-trampled alternative to the brooding celebrity of nearby Lochnagar.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Peak of the Eagle,' a nod to the golden eagles that still occasionally patrol the high skies above the Mounth.
• •Located near the Birkhall and Balmoral estates, the hill has been a backdrop for royal excursions since the days of Queen Victoria's 'Highland Journals.'
• •Its slopes are composed of hardy Deeside granite, a rock so stubborn it has spent several millennia refusing to erode into the surrounding glens.
• •While it lacks the 3,000-foot prestige of a Munro, it offers a far superior view of the Lochnagar massif than you get from standing on Lochnagar itself.
• •The lower approaches feature heather so thick and deceptive that you’ll spend half the ascent wondering if you’ve accidentally walked into a giant, prickly sponge.