Cuillin

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The Cuillin Hills ( Scottish Gaelic: An Cuilthionn or to Cuiltheann ) is a rocky mountain on the Scottish island of Skye, which is one of the Inner Hebrides.

They are composed of the Black Cuillins and the Red Cuillins (or Red Hills ). Between these two massifs Glen Sligachan extends in a north-south direction. Under (The) Cuillin is often only in the narrow sense of the chain of the Black Cuillins understood. The name Red Cuillins has - particularly on Skye itself - only minor importance.

The highest point of the Cuillin Hills is the 992 m high Sgurr Alasdair in the Black Cuillins. He is at the same time the highest point on the Isle of Skye.

Black Cuillins

The Black Cuillins are mainly composed of basalt and gabbro. The name Black (Eng. "black" ) Cuillin derives from the dark color of the gabbros. The crest of the Black Cuillins is characterized by craggy, bare rock, steep cliffs and deep Karen and gutters. All twelve Munros on Skye are in the Black Cuillins. However Thereof, the Blaven ( Scottish Gaelic: Bla Bheinn ) a special case: It belongs to a group of mountains which, like the Red Cuillins is separated by the Glen Sligachan from the main chain of the Black Cuillins. A well-known hiking and climbing in the Black Cuillins is the crossing of the entire chain of peaks (Black Cuillin ( Ridge ) Traverse ).

Red Cuillins ( The Red Hills )

The Red Cuillins and Red Hills ( Scottish Gaelic: Am Binnean Dearg ) consist mainly of granite, in contrast to the dark gray of the Black Cuillins appear slightly red depending on the light and viewing angle. The shapes of the hills are more rounded by weathering than in the Black Cuillins, the plant cover extends to peak height. The flanks are dominated by long screes.

The highest point of the Red Cuillins forms of Glamaig.

Significant peaks

The following list contains the Munros, Corbetts and Grahams of the Cuillin Hills. Not included in the list are (side) the summit as the Clach glass.

Maps

• Ordnance Survey: OS Outdoor Leisure 8 - The Cuillin & Torridon Hills, 1:25000 scale, Ordnance Survey, Southampton ( Great Britain) 1995, ISBN 978-0319260081
• Ordnance Survey: OS Landranger Map 32 - South Skye & Cuillin Hills, 1:50,000 scale, Ordnance Survey, Southampton ( Great Britain) 2007, ISBN 978-0319229903