Scotland
Faochag
909M
2982FT
About Faochag
Rising as a steep, conical sentinel at the head of Glen Shiel, this prominent peak offers a relentless but rewarding direct ascent. While often overshadowed by its neighbor, The Saddle, it provides a superb perspective of the jagged Forcan Ridge and the deep trough of the glen stretching toward Shiel Bridge.
Key Statistics
Rank
50th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
57m
Nearest Town
Kinloch Hourn
Geology
You are trekking across the Morar Group, a foundation of hard, sandy psammite and muddy semipelite. These durable rocks form the rugged slopes beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NG954123
Latitude
57.1558°N
Longitude
5.3845°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Faochag is Scottish Gaelic for 'whelk' or 'sea snail,' a reference to its remarkably symmetrical, conical shape when viewed from the valley floor.
- •Standing at 909 metres, the hill is a tantalising five metres short of Munro status, though its sharp profile makes it look significantly more imposing than many higher, flatter summits in the region.
- •The summit offers a peerless 'side-on' view of the Forcan Ridge; from here, you can clearly track the progress of walkers negotiating the 'Bad Step' on the final approach to the twin summits of The Saddle.
- •Looking north across the glen, the entire ridge of the Five Sisters of Kintail is visible, with the sharp peak of Sgùrr na Ciste Duibhe and the bulky mass of Sgùrr Fhuaran dominating the horizon.
- •The ascent from the A87 is famously uncompromising, gaining roughly 750 metres of height in less than two kilometres, ensuring you spend most of the climb staring at the grass six inches in front of your face.