An Teallach - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

About An Teallach - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill

Often regarded as Scotland’s most impressive mountain, this Torridonian sandstone giant offers a formidable mix of tiered cliffs and jagged ridges. As the highest point of the An Teallach massif, the summit provides a breathtaking vantage point over the wild sanctuary of the Fisherfield Forest and the Great Wilderness.

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Did You Know?

• •The name An Teallach translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'The Forge' or 'The Anvil'. This is thought to refer to the way clouds often gather around the jagged peaks like smoke from a blacksmith's hearth, or perhaps the hammered, industrial appearance of its dark sandstone terraces.
• •Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill is the higher of the two Munros on the ridge. While its neighbour, Sgùrr Fiona, is more aesthetically pointed, this summit is the true high point and offers the definitive view down into the depths of Toll an Lochain, backed by the terrifyingly steep pinnacles of Corrag Bhuidhe.
• •The mountain is a classic example of Torridonian sandstone, which is approximately 1,000 million years old. The distinctive horizontal terracing on the slopes was formed by long periods of erosion, creating natural 'steps' that provide both interesting scrambling and a deceptive sense of scale.
• •Most walkers combine this summit with Sgùrr Fiona. While the full traverse involves the famous 'Bad Step' and the airy Lord Berkeley's Seat, Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill can be reached via a more straightforward, albeit very steep, northern approach from the road at Dundonnell.
• •From the cairn, look west across the 'Big Six' Munros of the Fisherfield Forest, particularly the massive bulk of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair. To the north, the Summer Isles sit scattered in the waters of Enard Bay beyond the mouth of Little Loch Broom.
• •Despite the name meaning 'The Forge', any heat you encounter on the summit is likely to be strictly metaphorical; even in July, the wind whistling through the sandstone gullies is usually enough to remind you that the anvil is firmly located in the North West Highlands.