Scotland
Creag Scalabsdale
555M
1821FT
About Creag Scalabsdale
Rising above the lonely moorlands of East Sutherland, this prominent Marilyn offers a classic Highland experience of heather and peat. The pathless ascent across rolling ground rewards walkers with vast, uncluttered views across the Moray Firth and north towards the distinctive cone of Morven and the long ridge of Scaraben.
Key Statistics
Rank
129th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
200m
Nearest Town
Torrish
Geology
The ground here is part of the Scaraben Quartzite Formation. This durable rock was formed when ancient sand layers were fused together by intense heat and pressure.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Suidh' an Fhir-bhig
Creag nan Gearr
Creag nan Gearr
Creag Scalabsdale SE Top
Cnoc Salislade
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC970240
Latitude
58.1933°N
Longitude
3.7537°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a linguistic map of history; Creag is Gaelic for crag, while Scalabsdale likely stems from the Old Norse Skalps-dalr, a remnant of the Viking presence in the coastal glens of Sutherland.
- •The summit provides a superb vantage point for the 'Caithness giants' to the north, specifically the sharp cone of Morven and its neighbour Scaraben, which stand out against the low-lying peatlands of the Flow Country.
- •Looking seaward, the view extends across the Moray Firth towards the Tarbat Ness peninsula and, in exceptionally clear conditions, the distant high tops of the Cairngorms.
- •Its status as a Marilyn ensures a sense of isolation; it is the kind of hill where the local red deer population usually looks more surprised to see you than you are to see them.