Scotland
Meall a' Chrathaich West Top
632M
2073FT
About Meall a' Chrathaich West Top
Situated in the remote moorland north of Fort Augustus, this rounded Tump offers a quiet alternative to the busy Great Glen below. Expect pathless, often boggy terrain across a landscape of heather and peat hags. From the summit, you gain a clear, uncrowded perspective over the vast waters of Loch Ness.
Key Statistics
Rank
125th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
40m
Nearest Town
Achnaconeran
Geology
The summit is shaped by the Tarvie Psammite Formation. This consists of psammite, a durable rock made from ancient, compressed layers of sand.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH353216
Latitude
57.2553°N
Longitude
4.7319°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Meall a' Chrathaich', which roughly translates to the 'Hill of the Quaking' or 'Shaking Hill', likely a reference to the unstable, boggy nature of the surrounding peat hags.
- •It sits on the high, undulating plateau between the Great Glen and Glen Moriston, making it a natural vantage point for spotting red deer, which frequent these quieter fringes of the Monadhliath.
- •The summit provides a distinctive southern vista toward the Corrieyairack Pass, the route of General Wade’s 18th-century military road that climbs steeply from Fort Augustus.
- •Navigating this terrain requires a keen eye for solid ground, as the 'quaking' element of its Gaelic name remains a very literal warning for anyone wearing non-waterproof boots.