Scotland
Gannoch
731M
2398FT
About Gannoch
Rising above the remote Forest of Birse, this broad, heather-clad dome offers a quiet alternative to the busier Mounth summits. It is a landscape of peat hags and expansive moorland, sitting on the boundary between Aberdeenshire and Angus, requiring a long, atmospheric approach from the north near Aboyne.
Key Statistics
Rank
97th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
36m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
Gannoch rests on Mount Battock granite. You are walking over a blend of fine-grained rock and stone speckled with large crystals that cooled slowly deep underground.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO496880
Latitude
56.9804°N
Longitude
2.8308°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Gannoch is likely derived from the Gaelic 'Gaineach', meaning a sandy or stony place, which refers to the weathered granite subsoil characteristic of these eastern Grampian ridges.
- •The hill overlooks the Forest of Birse, a rare example of a Scottish 'commonty' where local residents maintained ancient rights to grazing and timber, leading to centuries of legal battles over land ownership.
- •From the summit, walkers are treated to a clear view of the neighbouring Graham, Mount Battock, to the east, and the distinctive granite tor of Clachnaben standing out to the northeast.
- •The approach from the north follows the Water of Feugh into one of the most secluded corners of the Highlands, where the well-defined tracks eventually give way to pathless, challenging terrain near the summit.
- •While the 731-metre height is respectable, the local terrain ensures that every metre of ascent is paid for with the strategic navigation of energy-sapping peat hags.