Carn Ban

About Carn Ban

Forming a high, stony shoulder of the remote Seana Bhraigh massif, this Corbett sits in some of the wildest country in the Northwest Highlands. Its broad, quartzite-strewn plateau offers a sense of profound isolation. The effort to reach it is rewarded by spectacular, airy views into the deep, glacial troughs of the surrounding glens.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Càrn Bàn, meaning ‘white hill’ or ‘fair cairn’. This refers to the abundance of light-coloured quartzite rocks and scree found across its summit plateau, which can catch the light and make the peak stand out against the darker moors.
• •The hill is often climbed as part of a long expedition to Seana Bhraigh, typically starting from Inverlael at the head of Loch Broom. This approach involves a significant walk-in through the forestry of Gleann na Sguaib before emerging into the high mountain sanctuary.
• •From the summit, the view to the west is dominated by the jagged, saw-toothed skyline of An Teallach, while the vast, sprawling ridges of the Fannichs are visible to the south across the deep trench of the Dirrie More.
• •While many walkers treat this hill as a mere waypoint on the ridge, its eastern edge provides the most dramatic vantage point for looking down into the great glacial bowl of Luchd Choire, where vertical cliffs drop away toward a remote lochan.
• •Because it sits on a high-altitude plateau with few distinguishing features, this is a peak where your compass work needs to be sharp; in a 'white-out', the white stones of the White Hill offer very little help with orientation.