Scotland
An Socach East Top
937M
3075FT
About An Socach East Top
Sitting on the expansive, whale-backed ridge of An Socach, this Munro Top offers a sense of vast space above Glen Ey. The terrain is stony and heathery, typical of the Cairngorms' southern fringe. It serves as a breezy waypoint for those traversing the long summit plateau from the Baddoch.
Key Statistics
Rank
20th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
38.5m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are trekking across hard, pebbly sandstone and dark, clay-like rocks. These durable layers form the rugged and enduring foundation of this peak.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO098805
Latitude
56.9070°N
Longitude
3.4828°W
Did You Know?
- •The name An Socach is derived from the Gaelic 'soc', meaning a snout or beak. This refers to the hill's prominent, tapering ridge profile that projects out into the surrounding glens.
- •For years, there was debate among map-makers and hillwalkers as to which end of the ridge was higher; while this eastern top is substantial, the true Munro summit lies nearly two kilometres to the west and is roughly six metres taller.
- •From the summit cairn, you get a particularly clear perspective looking north-west into the remote upper reaches of Glen Ey, with the sprawling, bulky mass of Beinn Iutharn Mhòr dominating the skyline.
- •The approach from the north passes through the ruins of Auchelie in Glen Ey, a poignant reminder of the small communities that lived in these high valleys before the Highland Clearances.
- •The plateau is so broad and featureless that in a thick mist, the small summit cairn is less of a landmark and more of a reassurance that you haven't accidentally wandered into the next parish.