Sithean Mor [Sidhean Mor]

About Sithean Mor [Sidhean Mor]

Overlooking the rugged coastline of Gairloch, this prominent Marilyn offers a wild, pathless ascent through classic Northwest Highland heather and gneiss. Though modest in height, its position provides a grandstand view of the Torridon giants and the Minch, making it a rewarding objective for those seeking solitude away from the popular peaks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Sithean Mòr, meaning 'The Big Fairy Hill.' In Highland folklore, a sithean was traditionally believed to be a green, hollow mound inhabited by the fairy folk.
• •The summit acts as an exceptional vantage point for the Torridon mountains to the south; the distinctive 'horns' of Beinn Alligin and the massive, terraced bulk of Liathach are particularly prominent from this angle.
• •Looking west across the water of the Minch, the skyline is often broken by the jagged silhouette of the Cuillin on Skye and the distant hills of the Outer Hebrides.
• •Because the surrounding terrain is relatively low and undulating, this hill qualifies as a Marilyn, possessing over 150 metres of prominence and offering a sense of isolation that belies its proximity to the road at Shieldaig.
• •While its name suggests a population of fairies, a visitor is far more likely to encounter a persistent population of Highland midges, who appear entirely indifferent to the hill's mythological status.