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.

• •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.