Introduction
The red hills occupy a large area of land east of Glen Sligachan - the glen separating it from the Black Cuillins. I'm including Blaven in the description even though it's geologically part of the Black Cuillin. These are the second group of hills that you see as you drive along the road to Kyle of Lochalsh and over the Skye Bridge. The first impression you get is "my god that's a steep slog!". You'd be right. The drive along the road to Loch Ainort takes you right to the hub of these group of hills, a taste of things to come. I've only climbed three of these hills and these were easy.

Belig seen from the slopes of Garbh Bheinn

The south ridge of Garbh Bheinn

The Trotternish ridge on the other hand is the longest ridge on Skye. It's grassy with a steep east facing escarpment revealing some of the most spectacular rock features to be found anywhere in Britain.

Marsco
Marsco has a striking profile when seen from Sligachan. It's an isolated hill separated by a 320m high bealach to the next higher hill. From the bealach it's mainly grassy walk along an increasingly narrow ridge until you reach the top. The Sligachan approach is more dramatic and includes an optional grade 2 scramble. The summit can be climbed along with its lower neighbour: Ruadh Stac - a blunt nose of a summit with fierce drops all round. Both summits afford grand views of the Clach Glas ridge of Blaven.

The eastern approach to Marsco

Marsco seen from Sligachan

Marsco - a classic red hill

The upper section of Marsco's NW ridge

Glen Sligachan

Ruadh Stac seen from Marsco

On Marsco's narrow summit ridge

Glamaig
This is the most dominant red hill seen from Sligachan. A punishing scree slope awaits. But approach it from the east and it's a little more friendly. The mountain can be climbed along with Beinn Dearg Mhor and Beinn Mhor to form a round of Coire na Sgairde. I've never done this route but in any case climb Glamaig first as the descent to the bealach south of the summit is steep desperate scree in ascent.

The steep slopes of Glamaig from Sligachan

Beinn Dearg and Beinn Dearg Mhor

Garbh Bheinn
Another summit I've climbed and it's a lot more Black Cuillin than Red Cuillin. From the northwest ridge, some scrambling presents itself particularly on the final summit ridge - grade 1/2. It affords a head on view of the Clach Glas ridge and is quite an enjoyable summit for those who want a taste of Cuillin scrambling without the heady exposure. It's easy to add Belig onto the summit round to the east. Those wanting a pure approach to Blaven will find it's an obvious summit to take in before traversing the Clach Glas ridge.

The summit ridge of Garbh Bheinn

Blaven and the Clach Glas ridge from Garbh Bheinn

The other two approaches to the summit, the north east and south east ridges are grade 1 scrambles.

Bla Bheinn
Otherwise known as Blaven. It's been described as Scotland's most beautiful ridge. It certainly looks appealing from the bottom on either the west or east side of the mountain. It's one of the easier munros on Skye to climb. The south ridge is probably the easiest route. It's generally broad and contains the odd scramble up some steps. It's also got gullies that cut in deeply.

Blaven seen from the west in the rich evening light

The south ridge of Blaven

The Clach Glas ridge of Blaven seen from the summit

You reach the south top with no problem but the main top has one short obstacle in the way. A gully drops down to the dip in between the two summits. It's easy for most of the way except the exit at the bottom. Here a massive boulder has a 10 foot holdless vertical drop blocking the way. A weakness lies to the left - a block you straddle across with an overhanging wall trying to push you into the drop. Once at the dip, the summit is trivial. Sticking with the ridge down to the ridge requires scrambling. Overall this section is a grade 2 scramble.

Steep bit between Blaven's tops

The Table, on the east face of the Quirang

One of the pinnacles on the Quirang

The Trotternish Ridge
The ridge lies on Skye's northernmost peninsula known as Trotternish. The northernmost summit on this ridge is known as the Quirang which has a fantastic maze of pinnacles, cliffs and flat grass tables that were formed by an ancient landslide of biblical proportions. From below these cliffs look huge, upon closer inspection you find many intricacies - scree slopes provide entrances to reveal an intricate maze of deep chasms and huge rock walls.

Pinnacles of the Quirang

Chasms in the Quirang

The east face of the Quirang

Waterfall near Staffin

These cliffs stretch southwards for over 25km culminating in the highest peak, The Old Man of Storr at over 700m. Both the Quirang and Storr are very popular with tourists but the walk in between the two will be very quiet with hardly a path for much of the distance. The peninsula is general though is very quiet. One other sight worth seeing is a waterfall that falls 200m right over a sea cliff near the village of Staffin.