Carn Eighe

About Carn Eighe

Rising as the highest point north of the Great Glen, this massive, complex Munro dominates the remote wilderness between Glen Affric and Loch Mullardoch. Its sprawling ridges and steep, stony slopes offer a true sense of isolation, typically reached via a long, rewarding approach that usually includes its close twin, Mam Sodhail.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Càrn Eige, meaning 'Cairn of the Notch'. This refers to the deep, narrow col of Bealach Beag which separates the peak from its sister Munro, Mam Sodhail.
• •Standing at 1,183 metres, it is the highest mountain in the British Isles north of the Great Glen. It is the centrepiece of a vast high-level plateau that holds snow significantly longer than the coastal peaks to the west.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers a vista of the Torridon giants to the north, specifically the Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair on Beinn Eighe. To the west, the jagged skyline of the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye is visible across the peaks of Kintail.
• •Reaching the summit usually requires a long trek from either the Glen Affric road-end or the shores of Loch Mullardoch. Because of its remoteness, it is almost always climbed in conjunction with Mam Sodhail, requiring a significant day of endurance.
• •For many years, Mam Sodhail was thought to be the higher of the two; modern Ordnance Survey measurements eventually promoted Carn Eighe to the top spot by a mere two metres, a distinction that matters deeply to those counting every foot of ascent.