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Loch Coruisk Facts

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  • Loch Coruisk is listed number one in the 10 best lochs in Scotland

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  • It sits at the base of the Black Cuillin mountain range in Skye and is the most magnificent of all Scottish freshwater lochs.

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  • The dark rocks around Coruisk are Gabbro - a volcanic rock with a remarkably rough surface. It is this rock that provides the excellent grip that make the Cuillin so superb for climbing.

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  • Loch Coruisk is reputed to be the home of a kelpie or water horse, a shape-shifting creature that can assume human form. That is far more magical than a common old monster!!!

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  • There is a direct connection between the Skye Boat Song and Loch Coruisk. [1]

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  • It has had many famous visitors, the artist William Turner [2] , Sir Walter Scott [3] and Lord Tennyison [4]

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  • Most recently the ‘slabs’ in the Cuillin have been descended by the one and only mountain biker Danny MacAskill [https://youtu.be/4Ym2F-tHdkk]​

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[1] While being rowed along the loch on a trip to the Island of Skye during the 1790’s that Miss Annie MacLeod first heard the Gaelic air “Cuchag nan Craobh” being sung by the rowers.  Miss MacLeod wrote down the music as she remembered it and the lyrics were later added by Sir Harold Boulton

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[2] The loch is a scene in one of Turners paintings

[3] Sir Walter Scott visited the loch in 1814 and described it vividly:


“Rarely human eye has known

A scene so stern as that dread lake,

With its dark ledge of barren stone...”

[4]  Lord Tennyson reported more prosaically:


“Loch Coruisk, said to be the wildest scene in the Highlands, I failed in seeing. After a fatiguing expedition over the roughest ground on a wet day we arrived at the banks of the loch, and made acquaintance with the extremest tiptoes of the hills, all else being thick wool-white fog.” 

The team have organised a short 3 day jaunt to Skye to see our namesake loch and plan some mini adventures while there….


Fortuitously, there is a walking circuit around Loch Coruisk from Elgol (just so happens that’s where we will be staying) via the notorious 'bad step' (Not to be confused with the naughty step!!) It covers a distance of 7km and with 6 stages in the circuit, it should take around 3-4 hours to complete.


With this option we would take a boat trip from our base in the morning and return on the afternoon boat trip. This gives wonderful views from the sea as the Cuillin are gradually approached across the sea-loch, Scavaig. Seals are usually seen from the boat, and there is a chance to see porpoise, otters or dolphins before getting our feet mucky.


For more on our adventures watch this space…..

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