📌 Isle of Eigg, Small Isles
★★★★
An Sgùrr is the highest point on the Isle of Eigg. With one of the most eye-catching and unlikely appearances of any hill in the country, it promises one of the most memorable island ascents anywhere in Scotland – and duly delivers. The gigantic volcanic monolith is a pitchstone inselberg, formed as softer surrounding basalt eroded away over millions of years. Sheer cliffs appear to block passage on all sides; indeed, an ascent of the east-facing Nose is an extreme rock climb. Luckily for ordinary mortals a fairly straightforward path sneaks around to the hidden rear where the slopes soften. The ridge to the summit is surprisingly broad, but takes nothing away from the sensational views over the Small Isles, Skye and the Scottish mainland.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Eigg ferry terminal, Galmisdale, Isle of Eigg
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 484838
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.877355,-6.130823
🚢 Ferry to Eigg from Mallaig (infrequent) or Arisaig (seasonal), both with good onward connections
🚗 Leave the car in Mallaig / Arisaig & take the ferry to Eigg
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 400 m | ⌛ 3-4 hr
Features: △ An Sgùrr (394 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Track to just beyond Nead-na-feannaig, then clear path to summit. Path has several short boggy sections and a steeper rocky stretch on the ridge where the odd hand might be needed – however, it’s much more straightforward than the shape of the hill suggests.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – cottage at Nead-na-feannaig – follow base of An Sgùrr north side – join ridge at 🧭 NM 458848 – summit of An Sgùrr – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep. Several dolphins, numerous seals and seabirds seen from the ferry to the island.
Weather: Sunny with a gentle breeze on the summit, temperature in mid teens.
August 2016
