Doire Ban

Rising above the northern shores of Loch Shiel near Polloch, this rugged Marilyn offers a quintessential West Highland experience. The ascent through rough heather and craggy outcrops is demanding for its height, rewarding walkers with exceptional views across the water to the Glenfinnan hills and the distant peaks of the Knoydart Rough Bounds.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Doire Bàn', which translates as 'white grove' or 'fair thicket', likely referring to the light-coloured birch woods that historically colonised the lower slopes near Glen Hurich.
• •Despite its modest elevation, the summit provides a spectacular grandstand for Loch Shiel; from the top, you can see the loch winding north-east towards the Glenfinnan Monument, framed by the steep slopes of Sgùrr nan Coireachan and Sgùrr Thuilm.
• •Most walkers approach the hill from the remote settlement of Polloch, using forestry tracks to bypass the densest vegetation before striking out onto the pathless, rocky spine of the ridge.
• •While the name promises a 'white grove', anyone tackling the lower slopes after a typical Lochaber week will find the predominant landscape feature is a deep, persistent bog that persists long after the trees have thinned out.