Scotland
An Lean-charn
521M
1709FT
About An Lean-charn
Rising above the southern shores of Little Loch Broom, this rugged Marilyn marks the high point of the Scoraig peninsula. Its heather-clad slopes offer a straightforward but pathless ascent, rewarding walkers with a staggering, close-quarters perspective of the An Teallach ridge and the coastal waters of the Minch.
Key Statistics
Rank
153rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
328m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
The ground beneath your boots is the Altnaharra Psammite Formation, composed of ancient sandstone that has been compressed and hardened into a durable rock.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC419525
Latitude
58.4329°N
Longitude
4.7082°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic, likely translating as 'The Meadow Cairn' (from lean meaning a meadow or moist plain and càrn meaning a rocky hill), perhaps referencing the flatter ground found on its lower eastern flanks compared to the rocky summit.
- •Positioned between Loch Broom and Little Loch Broom, the summit acts as a natural grandstand for viewing the jagged, serrated skyline of An Teallach, which dominates the horizon directly to the south.
- •To the northwest, the view opens up over the remote Scoraig peninsula toward the Summer Isles and the vast expanse of The Minch, the sea channel separating the mainland from the Outer Hebrides.
- •Despite being a Marilyn, it is frequently overlooked by walkers heading for the celebrated Munros of the Fisherfield Forest or the 'Great Wilderness' located just across the A832 road.
- •Calling the hill a 'meadow cairn' is an exercise in Gaelic optimism; depending on the week's rainfall, the 'meadow' portions of the ascent are often more accurately experienced as a vertical sponge.