Scotland
Cnoc na h-Iolaire
355M
1164FT
About Cnoc na h-Iolaire
Rising above the rugged Lewisian gneiss of Sutherland, this 354-metre Hump offers a quintessential North West Highland experience. It is a landscape of complex navigation, scattered lochans, and rough heather. The ascent reveals a vast, watery wilderness, bridging the gap between the Atlantic coastline and the jagged inland mountains.
Key Statistics
Rank
328th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
116m
Nearest Town
Garve
Geology
This fell is shaped from layers of hard, sandy rock and toughened, clay-based stones. Bands of dark, heavy rock also weave through this rugged landscape.
Nearby Fells
Carn Faire nan Con
Sgurr Marcasaidh East Top
Carn Loch a' Bhodaich
Creag a' Chaoruinn
Druim a' Ghiubhais
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH388608
Latitude
57.6090°N
Longitude
4.6997°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic in origin, with Cnoc na h-Iolaire translating as 'Hill of the Eagle'. Such names usually indicate historic nesting sites for golden or white-tailed eagles, both of which still frequent the remote skies of Sutherland.
- •The summit offers a commanding view of the 'cnoc and lochan' scenery typical of the region, specifically looking towards the distinctive peaks of Quinag to the south and the sharp profile of Arkle to the northeast.
- •The hill is composed of some of the oldest rocks in the world—Lewisian gneiss—which creates a fractured, lumpy terrain that makes direct route-finding deceptively difficult despite the modest elevation.
- •In this part of the Highlands, a hill of this height is less of a climb and more of a tactical exercise in navigating around an endless series of unnamed bog pools.