Cnoc an t-Sidhein Mor

Tucked away in the remote heart of Sutherland, this substantial Tump offers a true sense of isolation. Its name translates as the ‘big hill of the fairy mound,’ and the approach across rugged, pathless moorland feels appropriately otherworldly. The summit provides a vast, uninterrupted perspective across the desolate interior toward the Assynt giants.

• •Its Gaelic name, Cnoc an t-Sidhein Mòr, translates as the ‘Big Hill of the Fairy Mound.’ In Highland folklore, sìdhein were believed to be the dwellings of the supernatural ‘peaceful people,’ and the name often identifies hills with distinctive, rounded profiles.
• •The hill occupies a remote position south of Glen Oykel on the border of Ross-shire and Sutherland, requiring a long, pathless trek through the Rhidorroch Forest or across the surrounding moors to reach its summit.
• •From the top, walkers are rewarded with a clear sightline to the jagged profile of Stac Pollaidh and Cul Mor to the west, while the massive, remote cliffs of Seana Bhràigh dominate the southern horizon.
• •With no established trails and several kilometres of boggy terrain to negotiate, the ‘fairy mound’ is a place where you are significantly more likely to meet a red deer than a fellow walker.