Macleod's Tables

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Summary

Macleod's Tables are two curious flat-topped hills prominent in views from many parts of Skye. Their ascent gives a very rough, pathless moorland walk but with great views.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Pathless rough moorland walking for the approaches; the Tables themselves have steep grassy slopes

Public Transport

None to start. Bus 56 to Glendale; ask to get off at Orbost road end, 3.5km from the start.

Start

Start of track near bend in road to Orbost House. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 11km / 6.75 miles
Time (summer conditions): 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 691m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG256444

Summits Climbed

Sub 2000: Healabhal Bheag
Sub 2000: Healabhal Mhor

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (5)

Stage 1

Take the B884 Glendale road and turn onto the minor road to Orbost. After a bend to the right, but before the road bends left again, there's a gate and tack off on the right. There's space for one car to park here without blocking the gate; if this isn't possible you may need to park just short of Orbost House. Begin the walk along the track for 50m, then leave it and turn left, keeping the fence on your left. When the fence goes off left continue ahead across pathless heather moorland, curving up towards the indistinct top of Beinn Bhuidhe, keeping to the height of the land. From Beinn Bhuidhe continue across the moor, still keeping to the height of the land to reach An Cruachan to the southwest.

Stage 2

From here, the way ahead to Healabhal Beag, the higher of Macleod's Tables, is clear - appearing as more of a cone than a table from here. Continue across the moor to reach dryer but increasingly steep grassy slopes. The way up to the Table appears to be barred by a great rocky prow. Continue to the foot of this; from here an eroded path heads to the right to bypass the cliffs; soon it zig-zags up broken ground and eventually continues as a scree path. At the top of this bear left to reach the grassy ridge above the prow.

Stage 3

This has great views, particularly over Loch Bracadale to the Cuillin, and leads much more easily up to reach the rim of the plateau. Continue across the plateau, passing one wind-shelter cairn and heading towards a second buolt around the trig point. Healabhal Bheag is the higher of the Tables though Bheag means little and Mhòr means big. The reason is that Healabhal Mòr has a much greater bulk when seen from the glens.

Stage 4

There are a number of legends associated with the Tables. In the most popular, the Chief of Clan MacLeod was invited to a banquet by King James V in Edinburgh. Hearing the taunts from the assembled dignitaries, Macleod boasted that he had a grander table and more beautiful candles on Skye. When some of these dignitaries came to Dunvegan, Macleod led them up Healabhal Mhòr where he had laid out a great feast, with clansmen standing round the edge of the plateau holding torches. An older legend relates to St Columba's arrival on Skye. At this time the hills had pointed summits, but when Columba was not offered a bed by any locals, divine intervention led to the levelling of the hilltops, providing Columba with a bed and table. For the descent, head northwest across the plateau and then carefully down the very steep grass slope, avoiding any rocky sections to the left. T

Stage 5

To continue to Healabhal Mhor, it is possible to skirt the slopes of Beinn na-Uamha by following a shelf to its right. In a dip, there's a gate in a stock fence to pass through. Beyond a further descent precedes the increasingly steep climb to the second table. Walking up the final grass slope to the plateau feels like you are preparing for take off! The summit of Healabhal Mhòr is slightly to the left near the start of the plateau, which is surprisingly a little boggy.

Stage 6

The view is slightly less fine than than from Healabhal Bheag, except for a beautiful vista of the complex shores of Loch Dunvegan and its many islands which is revealed as you continue east to the far side of the plateau. The descend is another steep, mostly grassy slope to the east.

Stage 7

When the ground begins to level off, it is best to head off southeast down towards the Osdale River. There's a fence on the far side, with a gate at NG237442. Cross the burn and pass through the gate. The next section is across the rough and wet moors, aiming for the shallow bealach (pass) between Creagan Dearga and Beinn Bhuidhe - careful navigation work is required. Here you rejoin the outward route and retrace your steps back to the start.

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