Marsco from Sligachan

THE RED HILLS, BROADFORD, ELGOL AND RAASAY


Summary :	Marsco is a fine peak well seen from Sligachan. Despite being less then 2500 feet high, it is a superb viewpoint.
Terrain :	This is a fairly straightforward hillwalk, mostly on grass or boggy slopes. There is a little scree but less than on other walks in the Red Hills.
Grade :		Distance :	14km/8.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	4 - 6 hours
Start :	Lay-by on east side of river at Sligachan	Grid ref :	NG487298
Map :	View an OS map of the route Buy Explorer 411 - Cuillin Hills online	Ascent :	738m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more Open all walks in Google Earth Tell me more
Pronunciation and meaning :	Press play button to listen Tell me more
Public Transport :	Buses from Portree, Broadford and Kyleakin - get off at Sligachan Hotel.[Click for timetables - choose Area 4]

1. Start at Sligachan on the opposite side of the river from the hotel, by the old bridge. There is an iron gate and a footpath sign for Loch Coruisk and Elgol. Go through the gate and follow the footpath. Keep on the main path when a smaller path goes off left. The route continues with a good surface for a couple of kilometres, until you reach a ford where the path crosses the Allt na Measarroch, the stream coming down from the valley to the left.

2. Turn left up the left side of this stream. There is a poor path which is boggy and hard to follow in many places. Continue ascending up by the stream all the way to the wide bealach (pass) at its head, the Mam a'Phobuill. Bonnie Prince Charlie crossed this pass at night as he walked from Portree to Elgol to escape the troops pursuing him. Head across to the far side. Marsco looks quite intimating from here. Note the bowl of Coire nan Laogh facing you. Cross the stream issuing from it and ascend the indistinct ridge up the left side of the corrie following a line of old fence posts at first. It is steep but mostly on grass.

Photo ©John Allan and reproduced under this licence

3. The climb emerges suddenly on the main ridge of Marsco. Turn right along it to reach the tiny summit perch; the ridge is narrow but grassy. This is a magnificent viewpoint, particularly of the Cuillin which look fabulous over Harta Corrie, and of Blaven above Camasunary. The easiest return is by the same route. An alternative is to descend the southeast ridge and then continue down the right side of boggy Coire nam Druadaran to reach the A87(T) above Loch Ainort, 10 kilometres along the road from Sligachan - this obviously would involve two cars or timing the walk to meet the bus.

Photo of Marsco summit ©David Gruar and reproduced under this licence

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Hotels in Broadford, Elgol, Sconser, Raasay
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