Scotland
Frith-mheallan
680M
2231FT
About Frith-mheallan
Tucked away in the remote Reay Forest of Sutherland, this rugged 680-metre peak offers a quiet alternative to the popular nearby giants. The terrain is characteristically rocky and peat-scarred, rewarding hikers with a superb, uncrowded vantage point over the stark, watery wilderness of the far North West.
Key Statistics
Rank
87th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
54m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking on ancient, banded bedrock called the Lewisian Complex. Dark ribbons of rock from the Scourie Dyke Swarm cut directly through these older layers.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Creag-mheall Mor
Creag na Sgoinne
Beinn a' Chaisgein Beag
Creag-mheall Mor East Top
Creag-mheall Mor East Top
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NG979810
Latitude
57.7736°N
Longitude
5.3993°W
Did You Know?
- •Derived from the Scottish Gaelic Frith-mheallan, the name translates as 'the little rounded hill of the deer forest,' referencing its location within the historic Reay Forest, an area traditionally managed for deer stalking rather than timber.
- •Situated in one of the most sparsely populated corners of Britain, the summit provides a clear view of the distinctive quartzite screes of Arkle and the dark, tiered cliffs of Foinaven to the north.
- •The most logical approach starts from the estate tracks near Loch Stack, involving a crossing of the River Laxford before a pathless ascent through classic Sutherland gneiss and bog.
- •In an area dominated by world-class peaks like Suilven and Quinag, Frith-mheallan remains largely the preserve of those who have already climbed everything else or have become hopelessly lost looking for the track to Arkle.