Skye

The mountains of the Cuillin ridge on the island of Skye, viewed from Loch Carron on the Scottish mainland. The Cuillin Hills, which range from Sgurr Alasdair in the south (left) to Sgurr nan Gillean in the north (right), provide some of the most difficult climbs in the Highlands of Scotland.

The mountains of the Black Cuillin Hills, as seen from Drynoch, on the main road between Bracadale and the Sligachan. The jagged pinnacles seen on the left form the ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean (‘Peak of the Young Men’), which reaches an altitude of 965 m/3,166 ft.

Largest island of the Inner Hebrides, Highland region, off the west coast of Scotland; area 1,740 sq km/672 sq mi; population (2001) 9,230. It is separated from the mainland to the southeast by the Sound of Sleat and by the islands of Raasay and Scalpay to the northeast. The chief port and town is Portree. The economy is based on crofting, craft industries, tourism, and livestock. The Skye Bridge, a privately financed toll bridge to Kyleakin on the island from the Kyle of Lochalsh, was completed in 1995.

Much of the island is underlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks, and the scenery of the central part is very mountainous; Sgurr Alasdair (993 m/3,257 ft) in the Cuillin Hills is the highest point. The coastline is deeply indented by numerous sea lochs, and most of the settlements are coastal. Large areas of the northern and central western parts of the island have now been planted as forest. The island is 75 km/47 mi long and 25 km/16 mi wide.

Numerous car ferries serve the island: Armadale is connected to Mallaig on the mainland; Uig to Tarbert (Harris); Uig to Lochmaddy (North Uist); and Sconser to Raasay.

Dunvegan Castle (13th–14th centuries) in the west of the island, is home to the chiefs of the Scottish clan Macleod.