Sgorr an Fharaidh

About Sgorr an Fharaidh

Sitting at the northern tip of the Trotternish Peninsula, this modest Marilyn offers a dramatic coastal perspective often missed by those heading for the Quiraing. Its grassy slopes lead to steep cliffs, providing a superb vantage point over the Minch towards the distant silhouettes of the Outer Hebrides and the Shiant Isles.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name Sgorr an Fharaidh translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Peak of the Lookout' or 'Peak of the Watch'. Given its commanding position over the Minch, it likely served as a strategic vantage point for spotting vessels approaching the northern coast of Skye.
• •The summit provides a clear bird's-eye view of Duntulm Castle, the 14th-century ancestral seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat, which sits on a precarious rocky promontory directly below the hill's western slopes.
• •Looking northeast across the water, walkers can often spot the Shiant Isles, a small group of uninhabited islands known for their massive basalt columns and significant seabird populations.
• •While the southern reaches of the Trotternish Ridge are famous for chaotic rock pinnacles, this northern section is defined by smoother turf and sheer basalt cliffs that drop away toward the sea.
• •Despite being a classified Marilyn with significant prominence, the hill remains one of the quieter corners of Skye, largely because most visitors are distracted by the more famous rock formations a few miles further south.