Scotland
Carn Alladale
636M
2087FT
About Carn Alladale
Rising above the wooded heart of the Alladale Wilderness Reserve, this rounded Tump offers a quiet vantage point over Gleann Alladale. Its heathery slopes provide a front-row seat to one of Scotland’s most ambitious rewilding projects, making it a peaceful, rugged alternative to the busier neighbouring heights of Càrn Ban.
Key Statistics
Rank
91st Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
72m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
The ground beneath you is the Crom Psammite Formation. This hard, grainy rock began as ancient sand that was squeezed and hardened deep underground.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH408898
Latitude
57.8693°N
Longitude
4.6843°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a blend of Gaelic and Old Norse; 'Càrn' refers to the rocky hill, while 'Alladale' likely stems from the Norse 'Aladalr', meaning the glen of the swans.
- •The hill is a central feature of the Alladale Wilderness Reserve, an estate dedicated to restoring the Caledonian Forest and famous for its long-standing proposals to reintroduce apex predators like the wolf.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a specific, elevated perspective of the Amhuinn Deàrg winding through the glen below, framed by the massive eastern bulk of the Graham, Càrn Ban.
- •Despite the estate's status as a managed nature reserve, hillwalkers enjoy a right of responsible access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act, though the presence of deer-proof fencing makes sticking to established tracks through the glen advisable during the approach.
- •It is the kind of summit where you are significantly more likely to be watched by a golden eagle than interrupted by a fellow human, given its position in one of the less-trodden corners of Sutherland.