Scotland
Meall an Ceirileach
502M
1647FT
About Meall an Ceirileach
Rising above the Kyle of Sutherland near Ardgay, this rounded, heather-clad moorland summit offers an accessible ascent. Though relatively modest at 502 metres, its position provides a grandstand view over the Dornoch Firth and back toward the looming inland bulk of Ben Wyvis and the peaks of the Reay Forest.
Key Statistics
Rank
178th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
121m
Nearest Town
Allt na Caillich
Geology
You are walking on Altnaharra Psammite, a rugged rock that began as layers of sand before being hardened and transformed deep underground.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC419500
Latitude
58.4104°N
Longitude
4.7076°W
Did You Know?
- •The Gaelic name Meall an Ceirileach is generally interpreted as the 'Hill of the Caskets' or 'Chest-shaped hill,' a reference to its somewhat blocky, humped appearance when viewed from the glens of the Strathcarron.
- •From the summit, walkers can trace the meeting of four major rivers—the Oykel, Cassley, Shin, and Carron—as they converge into the Kyle of Sutherland before flowing into the sea.
- •The ascent is often made simpler by following the maintenance track that serves the telecommunications mast on the hill's eastern shoulder, providing a firm path through the otherwise dense and heavy Sutherland heather.
- •On a clear day, the view extends past the immediate straths to the distant, isolated peaks of the far north, including the unmistakable silhouette of Ben Klibreck.
- •The presence of a substantial telecommunications mast near the top ensures that while you may feel remote, your mobile phone signal is likely to be significantly more reliable than your navigation.