Scotland
A' Chailleach
999M
3276FT
About A' Chailleach
Standing as the western sentinel of the Fannichs, this Munro offers a gentler profile than its jagged neighbours to the east. The broad, grassy slopes provide straightforward walking, leading to a summit with commanding views over the wild, lochan-dotted hinterland of the Dundonnell Forest and the distinctive profile of An Teallach.
Key Statistics
Rank
12th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
182.9
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are trekking over the Glenfinnan Group’s tough, striped rocks. These layers were once ancient mud, transformed by intense heat and pressure into the crystalline foundation beneath you.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH136714
Latitude
57.6938°N
Longitude
5.1287°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic for 'The Old Woman' or 'The Hag.' In Scottish folklore, the Cailleach is a creator deity and the queen of winter; the name is often applied to mountains that are thought to resemble a seated figure or possess a formidable, ancient character.
- •While often tackled as the final peak of a long traverse of the Fannichs ridge, it is most frequently climbed alongside its neighbour, Sgùrr nan Clach Geala, starting from the north near the A835.
- •The summit offers an exceptional vantage point for looking west into the Fisherfield Forest, often called the 'Great Wilderness,' where the remote peaks of Slioch and A' Mhaighdean are visible across a landscape devoid of roads or permanent habitation.
- •The mountain's eastern face is home to the impressive Coire na Tìge (Corrie of the House), a steep-sided glacial bowl that provides a rugged, rocky contrast to the relatively tame western slopes.
- •Despite the name translating to 'The Old Woman,' the initial ascent from the valley floor is anything but frail, requiring a sustained pull that tends to silence all but the most fit walking companions.