Ben Dreavie

About Ben Dreavie

Rising between the stark profiles of Ben Stack and Arkle, this rugged Marilyn epitomizes the rocky Lewisian gneiss landscape of Sutherland. Its summit offers a wilderness perspective across the 'knock and lochan' terrain of the Reay Forest, providing an intimate look at the quartzite screes and shattered ridges of its more famous neighbours.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Beinn Dreavie is thought to derive from the Gaelic 'dreabh', possibly referring to a ploughed or furrowed appearance, though in this Lewisian gneiss terrain it more likely describes the natural stepped terraces found on its eastern slopes.
• •Situated in the heart of the Reay Forest, the hill serves as a central viewing platform for the giants of Sutherland; the quartzite humps of Arkle and the sprawling massif of Foinaven are particularly prominent to the north.
• •To the west, the summit provides a clear view over the fragmented coastline of Eddrachillis Bay, where the 'drowned' landscape of the northwest coast meets the North Atlantic.
• •Walkers often approach from the south via the remote Loch na Gainmhich, navigating a pathless landscape of heather and ancient metamorphic rock that requires keen navigation in low cloud.
• •Despite its modest height, the lack of any established paths ensures that a visitor will expend roughly the same amount of effort—and likely lose the same amount of boot leather—as they would on a much larger mountain.