Scotland
An Carnais
529M
1736FT
About An Carnais
Standing as the second highest peak on Lewis, this rugged gneiss summit offers a wild, pathless experience in the heart of the Uig hills. Often paired with nearby Mealasbhal, its slopes are characterized by complex rocky outcrops and the sprawling, watery vistas typical of the remote Outer Hebrides.
Key Statistics
Rank
204th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
22
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
An Carnais is built from tough, banded rocks that began as layers of sand and mud. Heat and pressure transformed these materials into the sturdy foundation beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH270391
Latitude
57.4093°N
Longitude
4.8803°W
Did You Know?
- •The name reflects the Norse-Gaelic heritage of the islands, likely combining the Gaelic 'carn' (rocky hill) with the Old Norse 'áss' (ridge or hill), aptly describing its stony character.
- •The summit is composed of Lewisian Gneiss, a rock type that is among the oldest in the world, dating back approximately three billion years.
- •It is separated from its higher neighbour, Mealasbhal, by the high saddle of Bealach na h-Airde, a pass often used by those 'bagging' both peaks in a single outing.
- •The view to the west is exceptional on clear days, looking out across the Atlantic toward the remote and uninhabited Flannan Isles.
- •To the south, the summit offers a clear sightline down into the deep trench of Loch Resort, which forms the traditional boundary between the regions of Lewis and Harris.
- •If you find an established path on these slopes, you have likely followed a stray sheep into a dead end; the terrain here is famously trackless and requires confident navigation.