Listing Graham, Marilyn Elevation 721 m Mountain range Cuillin | OS grid NG601233 Prominence 696 m Parent range Cuillin | |
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Translation Hill of the Old Woman (Gaelic) Similar Blà Bheinn, Sgùrr na Coinnich, Clach Glas, Sgùrr Alasdair, Beinn Dearg | ||
Beinn na Caillich (732 metres), west of Broadford on the isle of Skye, is one of the Red Hills, or Red Cuillin. Its name is translated into English as Hill of the Old Woman. It is often referred to locally simply as The Beinn.
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Map of Beinn na Caillich, Isle of Skye, UK
The summit is adorned by an especially large cairn, reputedly marking the site where Saucy Mary, a Norwegian princess and former resident of Castle Moil in Kyleakin, is buried. Local lore claims she was laid to rest atop the mountain so that she may forever face the land of her birth. An alternative version of events suggests the monument was dedicated to "a gigantic woman in the days of Fingal". Thomas Pennant climbed the hill while staying with Mackinnon of Corriechatachan (or Corry); Samuel Johnson and James Boswell did not.
HistoryEdit
On the eastern slopes is Goir a' Bhlàir, "the field of battle" (grid reference NG624234). The battle concerned was apparently a decisive action by the Gaelic Clan Mackinnon against the Norsemen
In 2004 the mountain was ascended 10 times in a single day by Broadford local Alan Cope. The cumulative distance covered in ten vertical ascents brought the total trekked to just 5000 ft short of scaling the equivalent of Mt Everest (and surpassing that distance if descents are included). Starting at 3.15 am on 15 July he completed 10 ascents and descents of Beinn na Caillich by 7.30 pm. His efforts raised more than £2000 for the action group Broadford 2000, who were seeking to improve leisure facilities in South Skye. For a time his name could be found imprinted in stones on the summit.