Scotland
An Caisteal
622M
2041FT
About An Caisteal
Rising steeply above the narrows of Loch Hourn, this rugged peak serves as a dramatic sentinel for the Beinn Sgritheall massif. Though lower than its neighbours, its position provides a commanding perspective over the fjord-like loch towards the jagged Knoydart skyline. It is a wild, trackless climb requiring navigational confidence.
Key Statistics
Rank
228th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
137m
Nearest Town
Barrisdale
Geology
You are walking on psammite, a durable rock formed from ancient layers of sand that were squeezed and heated deep underground until they hardened into stone.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NG893043
Latitude
57.0818°N
Longitude
5.4773°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Scottish Gaelic for 'The Castle', an apt description for a summit that presents a formidable, rocky profile when viewed from the waters of Loch Hourn.
- •The hill sits directly above the Caolas Mor, the narrowest point of Loch Hourn, where the tide rips through a channel barely 300 metres wide.
- •Walkers at the summit are treated to a spectacular, close-up view of the great northern precipices of Ladhar Bheinn across the loch—a sight often missed by those who stay on the main Knoydart paths.
- •Its status as a Hump means it has a prominence of at least 100 metres, providing a sense of isolation and scale that belies its relatively modest height.
- •The ascent offers all the traditional Scottish defences: a steep, pathless scramble, thick bracken, and a summit that frequently retreats behind its own private curtain of West Highland mist.