Marilyn · skye
Sgurr na h-Iolaire
Sgurr na h-Iolaire — peak of the eagle — is a sharp 292m crest above Ord on south Sleat, with a striking little summit cone visible from the road. Sea eagles do still hunt the surrounding shore.
Gaelic: “sharp peak, of the, eagle” · Pronunciation: skoor na h ull-ar-a
Quick facts
- Height
- 292m/ 958ft
- Grid ref
- NG 61716 09051
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rocky slopes 35% · grass slopes 15%
Short walk from Ord up the heathery east flank, with a brief easy scramble at the summit cone. About 3 km return and a quick 1-2 hours on the hill.
Terrain
Heather lower down, then short turf and a final rocky crest. The summit rocks form a natural eyrie-like perch overlooking the sea.
In winter
Almost always snow-free. The short scramble at the top would need care if iced but the rest of the walk poses no winter difficulty.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 26m
- Edinburgh8h 43m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 412
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Inner Hebrides or Skye; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:21
- Civil dawn
- 03:19
- Civil dusk
- 23:29
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Sgurr na h-Iolaire on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Mallaig station
End of the Road to the Isles — ferry to Skye, Knoydart, Small Isles
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Mallaig
Ferry port for Skye and the Small Isles; CWT finish supply
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door
28km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr na h-Iolaire — common questions
- How hard is Sgurr na h-Iolaire?
- Sgurr na h-Iolaire is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Heather lower down, then short turf and a final rocky crest.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr na h-Iolaire?
- The standard good-weather months for Sgurr na h-Iolaire are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Sgurr na h-Iolaire?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Sgurr na h-Iolaire?
- Poor. Remote Inner Hebrides or Skye; limited coverage.
- Is Sgurr na h-Iolaire safe in winter?
- Almost always snow-free. The short scramble at the top would need care if iced but the rest of the walk poses no winter difficulty.
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