Creachan Thormaid

Rising above the remote landscapes of the Reay Forest in the far North West Highlands, this rugged 600-metre hill offers a classic Sutherland experience. Its heathery slopes and rocky outcrops provide a grandstand view over Loch Stack, while the intimidating quartzite profiles of Foinaven and Arkle dominate the northern skyline.

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Creachan Thormaid, which translates as 'Norman's rocky hill-top,' with Thormaid being the Gaelic form of the Old Norse name Thormodr, a linguistic relic of the Viking influence in Northern Scotland.
• •From the summit, the view south-west over Loch Laxford toward the Atlantic is particularly striking, showcasing the complex, jagged coastline of Eddrachillis Bay.
• •The hill sits within a landscape dominated by Lewisian Gneiss, some of the oldest rock in the world, which creates the distinctive, labyrinthine 'cnoc and lochan' terrain surrounding the base of the peak.
• •For hill-baggers preoccupied with the 2,000-foot threshold, this summit is a study in frustration, falling short of the mark by less than four metres despite feeling every bit as wild and remote as its larger neighbours.