An Coileachan

About An Coileachan

Situated at the eastern edge of the Fannichs, this rugged Munro is defined by its steep, boulder-strewn slopes and craggy eastern face. Often climbed alongside Meall Gorm, it marks the start or finish of a classic high-level traverse, offering a stark, wild perspective over the desolate moors of the Dirrie More.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name An Coileachan is Gaelic for 'The Cockerel'. While the exact reason for the name is lost to time, it likely refers to the lekking grounds of black grouse in the surrounding glens, or perhaps the mountain's sharp, prominent profile when viewed from the south.
• •It acts as the eastern anchor for the 'Fannichs Eight'—a demanding 20-mile circuit of the range. Walkers usually approach from the A832, navigating the notoriously boggy ground of the Dirrie More before the terrain turns into the steep, rocky ascent required to reach the summit plateau.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for viewing the massive, isolated bulk of Ben Wyvis to the east, while the western view follows the high-level ridge towards the more central Fannich giants like Sgùrr Mòr.
• •The mountain's eastern corrie, Coire Làir, is significantly more rugged than its western neighbours. Its steep schist cliffs and stone chutes give this end of the range a more alpine character compared to the rounded, grassy slopes found further west toward A' Chailleach.
• •If you are tackling the full ridge from east to west, the initial climb up the steep, pathless flank of An Coileachan serves as a blunt and unsympathetic fitness test for the several miles of high-altitude walking still to come.