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Marsco from the Sligachan Hotel, Isle of Skye

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Isle of Skye

Author - Paul Gasson

Length - 8.7 miles / 14.1 km    Ascent - 2500 feet / 758 metres

Time - 6 hours 50 minutes    Grade - moderate

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 411Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 411Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 32Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 32Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Marsco from the Sligachan Hotel, Isle of Skye
Click image to see photo description.

The start of the walk is at the Sligachan Hotel (Grid ref. NG485299), on the A87, more or less half way between Broadford and the island's capital of Portree.

Close to the old bridge across the Sligachan River a signpost indicates Loch Coruisk. Take this clear, rough path for some 2 miles along the magnificent Glen Sligachan, crossing numerous small streams, until you come to a river, the Allt na Measarroch, and the remains of an old deer fence. This is the March Fence marking the limit of Lord MacDonald's forest.

Leave the Coruisk path here, turning east and then southeast to follow the burn across the moor, avoiding, if you can, the boggier parts. Climbing slowly, a shallow ravine is reached, from where a steep pull up brings you to the col, Mam a Phobuill, between Marsco and the Beinn Dearg tops. This is a good spot to admire the views across Glen Sligachan to Sgurr nan Gillean, the most pinnacled peak in Scotland, and in the opposite direction, to the mainland.

The climb now begins in earnest, with a faint path following the line of the dilapidated deer fence southwards up to the ridge. As you breast the ridge you are met by an almost overwhelming spectacle! To your left, across the Am Fraoch-choire lies the rocky outlier of Ruadh Stac, with, behind it, the magnificence of Blaven, the dramatic, jagged ridge of Clach Glas, Garbh Beinn and Belig. Straight ahead are the southern peaks of the Main Cuillin Ridge, with Sgurr Alisdair and Sgurr Thearlaich prominent in the centre. Far below are the diminutive Dubh Lochs in Glen Sligachan, and, a little further South, Loch Creitheach and Camasunary.

From here, easy angled slopes lead up to the true summit ridge, a short but knife edged ridge akin to walking along the ridge of a house, with the valley floor 2000ft. below, leading to the tiny summit at 2,412ft. The views in every direction are magnificent, and this is a good spot to try and spot a Golden Eagle soaring high over the glen.

When the time comes to head home, do not be tempted to continue northwest along a broad, easy angled ridge. This leads to dangerously steep ground and crags. Return the way you came up, though an alternative is to descend into Coire nan Laogh from the point where you crested the ridge, then regain your outward path below the col.

Make your way back along the glen to the Sligachan Hotel, where you can enjoy a well earned drink in the welcoming bar and reflect on a memorable walk in magnificent surroundings.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3760 Glamaig (Sgurr Mhairi & An Coileach)mod/hard4.5 miles
Walk 2002 Dun Caan, Isle of Raasaymoderate10.6 miles
Walk 3216 Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh and Sgurr na Banachdichvery hard5.5 miles
Walk 2197 The Inaccessible Pinnacle and Sgurr Mhic Choinnichvery hard6.0 miles
Walk 1167 Glen Brittle & Coire Laganmoderate4.6 miles
Walk 3753 Blabheinn via south ridgemod/hard8.0 miles
Walk 1166 Loch Coruiskeasy4.0 miles
Walk 1164 The Storr Sanctuary from Loch Leatheneasy/mod3.2 miles
Walk 2640 The Storr & Old Man of Storr from Loch Leathanmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 1886 Carn a' Bhealaich Mhoireasy/mod8.0 miles

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