Creag nan Suibheag

About Creag nan Suibheag

Rising steeply above the eastern shore of Loch Merkland, this rugged Sutherland hill offers a quick but rewarding ascent. Its lower slopes are craggy and wooded near Merkland Lodge, giving way to a broad moorland summit. From the top, you gain an excellent perspective over the loch toward the remote Reay Forest peaks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Creag nan Suibheag', which translates as the 'Crag of the Raspberries', likely referring to the wild fruit found on its lower, sheltered slopes.
• •Its position directly above the A838 makes it an exceptional viewpoint for the Reay Forest; the summit looks straight across Loch Merkland to the massive, scree-covered western face of Meall Horn.
• •Classified as a Hump, the hill is physically separated from its higher neighbour, Ben Hee, by a significant col, ensuring the summit feels like a distinct peak rather than a mere shoulder.
• •The ascent from near Merkland Lodge involves navigating through fragmented woodland and steep heather, a classic Sutherland approach that demands more effort than its modest 465-metre height suggests.
• •It serves as a perfect vantage point for observing the North Highland weather systems rolling in from the Atlantic long before they actually reach the summit.