Scotland
Cruach nan Nighean West Top
584M
1916FT
About Cruach nan Nighean West Top
Rising above the forested glens of the Cowal peninsula, this rugged shoulder offers a quieter perspective than its mainland neighbours. The terrain is characteristically Scottish—thick heather and hidden bogs—but the reward is a clear vista over the Holy Loch and the distant, jagged skyline of the Isle of Arran.
Key Statistics
Rank
165th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
23
Nearest Town
Edendonich
Geology
You are walking on Glen Coe Quartzite, a very tough rock formed from ancient sand. Its incredible hardness creates the rugged, craggy landscape found at this summit.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN206318
Latitude
56.4448°N
Longitude
4.9117°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Cruach nan Nighean, translating to the 'Hill of the Maidens.' Such names in Argyll often refer to historical shieling sites where young women would tend cattle during the summer months.
- •This peak serves as a significant viewpoint for the Holy Loch, providing an overhead look at the village of Kilmun and the waters used as training grounds by Royal Navy submarines during the mid-20th century.
- •To the north, the view is framed by the steep-sided peaks of the Arrochar Alps, with the distinctive rocky profile of Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler visible on the horizon.
- •Navigating the lower slopes requires weaving through the extensive forestry plantations of the Argyll Forest Park, which eventually give way to the open, pathless moorland of the summit ridge.
- •The 'West Top' designation is a cartographic necessity rather than a local one; to anyone struggling through the deep Cowal heather, it simply feels like the final, exhausting hurdle before reaching the main summit.