The Cuillin

The Cuillin is a world famous mountain range located on the Isle of Skye and part of MacLeod Estate. Primarily composed of basalt and gabbro, its name comes from the dark colour of the gabbro rock. The summits are jagged in outline with steep cliffs and deep cut corries/gullies. All twelve Munros on Skye are Black Cuillin peaks except for Blaven which belongs to an outlying group separated by Glen Sligachan from main ridge. Sgùrr Alasdair at 992m (3,255ft) is highest peak within this range. At heart lies one Britain’s most famed corrie- Loch Coruisk; a mysterious body water overlooked by forbidding rocks around it. Most parts have been declared as Site Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) while some areas have also been designated as Special Protection Area (SPA), mainly home to various species such birds including Golden Eagle etc.. The conservation activities supported & conducted under partnership between Macleod Estate & other agencies help monitoring fragile ecosystems along with improvements made in core path access for general public visiting area . Three primary routes offer entry into these mountains i:e South via Elgol – Foot or boat ; North through Sligachan Hotel ; Westwards via estate’s award winning camp site/cafe based at Glenbrittle .Glen Sligachan divides Red Hills having round tops – sometimes known as ‘Red Cuillin’ towards East ,from Western side featuring coarse grained black cuillins famously possessing 20 munros making them UK’s very own Alps! Many renowned painters like William Turner & Sir Walter Scott inspired here during their visits describe place way back 1814 : ‘We were now under western termination high mountains OfCuilin whose weather beaten serrated peaks we had admired distance Dunvegan ..They sunk upon sea but same bold peremptory aspect indicated …consisting precipitous sheets nakedrock down torrentsleaping hundred lines foam…tops apparently inaccessible human foot rent split most tremendouspinnacles base bare precipitouse crags ground enriched soil washed away verdant productive’.