Elgol & the Cuillins

Elgol is a small village at the end of a long single-track road on Skye's south coast, and it delivers one of the island's most striking views: the Black Cuillin rising directly across the water of Loch Scavaig.

The Cuillin range splits into two distinct parts. The Red Cuillin, to the east, are rounded granite hills with relatively gentle profiles. The Black Cuillin, by contrast, are a jagged ridge of gabbro rock forming one of the most serious mountain ranges in Britain, with Sgurr Alasdair as its highest point. The ridge is a serious undertaking for experienced hillwalkers and climbers rather than a casual walk, and large parts of it require scrambling or climbing skill.

From Elgol, boat trips run across Loch Scavaig to Loch Coruisk, a freshwater loch hemmed in almost entirely by the Cuillin themselves and accessible on foot only via a long and difficult walk, which is why the boat crossing is the way most visitors see it. The loch's setting, ringed by bare rock peaks with almost no vegetation, is often described as one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland.

Getting there

Elgol lies at the end of the B8083, a narrow single-track road running south from Broadford, with passing places and open hill country for much of its length. Boat trips to Loch Coruisk are weather-dependent and typically run on a seasonal timetable, so it's worth checking sailing times in advance rather than turning up on spec, especially outside the summer months.