Scotland
Mam Sodhail
1179M
3869FT
About Mam Sodhail
Standing as the second highest summit north of the Great Glen, this massive Munro dominates the remote wilderness of Glen Affric. Its soaring ridges and vast, rocky slopes offer a truly high-mountain feel, especially when tackled alongside its slightly taller twin, Càrn Eige, via the narrow connecting col.
Key Statistics
Rank
2nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
132.4m
Nearest Town
Fort Augustus
Geology
You are walking on hardened sandstone and mudstone from the Glenfinnan Group. These rugged rocks often contain shiny mineral flakes that sparkle in the light.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH120253
Latitude
57.2795°N
Longitude
5.1204°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Màm Sodhail, most commonly translated as the 'Hill of the Barns'. This likely refers to the massive, hollowed-out corries on its eastern flanks, which to early Gaelic speakers resembled the vaulted interiors of traditional barns.
- •The summit is marked by an unusually large and elaborate stone cairn. Built by Ordnance Survey mapmakers in the 1840s, it functions as a hollowed-out shelter, offering vital protection from the wind in one of Scotland’s most exposed high-altitude locations.
- •Mam Sodhail is almost inseparable from its neighbour to the north, Càrn Eige. Separated by a high col at 1,053 metres, the two form the highest duo of peaks in the northern Highlands; Mam Sodhail was actually considered the higher of the two until a 19th-century survey proved otherwise.
- •From the 1,179m summit, the view south-west across the abyss of Gleann na Cìche is exceptional, framing the jagged silhouettes of the Five Sisters of Kintail and the distinctively pointed peak of Sgùrr na Cìche in the distance.
- •Given the legendary length of the walk-in from Loch Affric, reaching the summit provides the perfect vantage point to contemplate exactly how many miles of flat track still stand between you and your car.