Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Sgurr na Stri
Sgurr na Stri — the Peak of Strife — at 495m delivers what many regard as the finest viewpoint in Scotland: a direct overlook of Loch Coruisk and the entire Cuillin amphitheatre. Small in stature, vast in reward.
Quick facts
- Height
- 495m/ 1624ft
- Prominence
- 226 m
- Grid ref
- NG 50075 19257
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
rocky slopes 50% · heather moorland 30% · grass slopes 20%
A long approach from Sligachan (around 20 km return) or the shorter walk-in from Elgol via Camasunary. Final ascent is a short rocky scramble through knolls to the summit cairn. Most parties take 7-9 hours from Sligachan.
Terrain
Long bog and stone-strewn approach, then exposed gabbro and basalt knolls near the top. The famous Bad Step on the Elgol route requires a confident scramble move.
In winter
A serious undertaking in winter — short days, fast-changing weather and the Bad Step iced make this far harder than the summer grade suggests.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 59m
- Edinburgh8h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 411
Mobile signal: Poor. No coverage; offline maps downloaded before the walk are essential.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:52
- Sunset
- 19:48
- Civil dawn
- 06:13
- Civil dusk
- 20:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026
Around Sgurr na Stri on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
27km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Talisker
Carbost on Skye — Cuillin foothills distillery; peppery, maritime, big-bodied
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Sgurr na Stri — common questions
- What difficulty is Sgurr na Stri?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Sgurr na Stri comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Underfoot: Long bog and stone-strewn approach, then exposed gabbro and basalt knolls near the top.
- What is Sgurr na Stri's prominence?
- 226m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Sgurr na Stri to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Sgurr na Stri?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Sgurr na Stri. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Sgurr na Stri dog-friendly?
- 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 Stri?
- Poor. No coverage; offline maps downloaded before the walk are essential.
- Is Sgurr na Stri safe in winter?
- A serious undertaking in winter — short days, fast-changing weather and the Bad Step iced make this far harder than the summer grade suggests.
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