Sgarbh Breac

Sgarbh Breac is the northernmost peak on the Hebridean island of Islay. It stands in a remote, uninhabited corner of the island’s north-east. The 364-metre hill lies about three kilometres south-west of Ruvaal headland and eight kilometres north-north-west of Port Askaig ferry terminal. Nearby is Loch Mhurchaidh, a 250-metre-wide loch about 1.5 kilometres south-west of the summit. Four kilometres to the south-west rises the smaller summit of Sgarbh Dubh. The mountain sits far from roads and villages, so no tracks lead to its slopes. Walkers usually start from the nearby Bunnahabhain distillery and follow described routes across open moorland. From the top, views stretch across the Sound of Islay to the Paps of Jura on the neighbouring island of Jura. Clear days also reveal the islands of Colonsay and Oronsay on the horizon. The summit offers wide, unbroken views over Islay’s northern moors and the surrounding sea. The air is quiet except for the wind and the occasional cry of seabirds. The climb rewards effort with a sense of isolation and sweeping coastal scenery. The nearest settlement is several kilometres away, leaving the mountain to its own solitude.