Carn Dearg

Overlooking the village of Applecross, this rounded sandstone summit offers a quieter alternative to the jagged Torridon peaks. The ascent crosses typical Highland terrain of heather and peat hags, but earns an expansive perspective over the Inner Sound toward the Isle of Skye and the islands of Raasay and Rona.

• •The name translates from Gaelic as 'Red Cairn', a common descriptor in this region for hills composed of Torridonian sandstone, which takes on a deep, rusty hue in the evening light.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point to view the tiered eastern corries of its neighbour, Beinn Bhàn, which are considered some of the finest examples of glacial erosion in the Northwest Highlands.
• •From the top, the view north across Loch Torridon reveals the immense, fortress-like profiles of Liathach and Beinn Alligin, two of Scotland’s most iconic mountain silhouettes.
• •While the legendary hairpins of the nearby Bealach na Bà draw the crowds, Carn Dearg remains largely the preserve of those who prefer their ascents on foot rather than in first gear.