Cnoc Ceislein

Rising above the southern shores of Loch Monar, this rugged Marilyn offers a sense of deep isolation within the North West Highlands. Its heather-clad slopes provide a challenging, pathless ascent, rewarding walkers with an earned perspective across the water toward the massive Maoile Lunndaidh and the high ridges of the Monar Forest.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Cnoc, meaning hill, and Ceislein, a diminutive of ceis (a wicker basket or hamper), likely referring to the hill's neat, rounded profile.
• •Reaching the base often requires navigating the Glen Strathfarrar private road; because vehicle access is strictly limited by a seasonal gate system, a climb here requires as much logistical planning as physical effort.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for inspecting the Monar Dam and the vast reservoir it created, which significantly altered the local landscape in the 1960s.
• •While often overshadowed by the nearby Munros, its classification as a Marilyn ensures a panoramic view of the 'Big Six' peaks of Strathfarrar that few of the higher summits can match for scale.
• •On a clear day, the view extends south past the hidden waters of Loch Mullardoch toward the towering, shark-fin profile of Sgùrr na Lapaich.