An Socach East Top

Forming a broad, rounded shoulder on the high Monadhliath plateau, this quiet summit offers a sense of immense space. The terrain is typical of the range: expansive heather moorland and mossy peat hags. From here, the views east across the Spey Valley toward the high Cairngorm giants are particularly impressive.

• •The name An Socach is common in the Highlands, derived from the Gaelic 'soc', meaning a snout or beak. This refers to the hill’s profile as a projecting point or spur of land extending from the main mass of the Monadhliath plateau.
• •Situated in the remote Monadhliath range, this summit sits on the fringes of one of Scotland's largest areas of high-altitude wild land. It is most frequently visited as part of a circuit from the south via Spey Dam.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for identifying the massive bulk of the 4,000ft Cairngorm peaks; Braeriach and Cairn Toul are clearly visible across the trench of the Spey Valley to the east.
• •Navigating this plateau in mist is an excellent way to test your compass skills, as the ground is famously featureless and one peat hag looks remarkably like the last five hundred you just crossed.