Coille Mhor

Rising above the eastern fringes of the Great Glen, this quiet Monadhliath summit offers a rugged, pathless experience characteristic of the region. The terrain is dominated by heathery slopes and peat hags, rewarding those who venture away from the Loch Ness tourist trail with expansive views toward the high Cairngorm plateau.

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Great Wood' (Coille Mhòr). While the summit is now open moorland, the name reflects a time when the Caledonian forest extended much higher up these Grampian slopes than the current tree line suggests.
• •Located on the Dunmaglass estate, the hill sits in a transition zone between the rolling Monadhliath hills and the steep drops of the Great Glen, providing an excellent vantage point to see the sharp profile of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh across the water.
• •As a Tump, it lacks the footfall of the nearby Corbetts or Munros, meaning you are far more likely to encounter red grouse or deer than another walking party on the climb from the B851.
• •One might expect a hill named 'Great Wood' to offer some shelter; unfortunately, the trees departed several centuries ago, leaving only the heather and the wind to keep you company.