Scotland
Quinag - Sail Gharbh
809M
2654FT
About Quinag - Sail Gharbh
Standing as the highest point of the magnificent Quinag massif, Sail Gharbh occupies the northern arm of a rugged Y-shaped ridge. Its terrain is a classic Assynt mix of tiered Torridonian sandstone capped with white quartzite, offering a punchy Corbett ascent with far-reaching views over the fractured lochans of the Inverpolly wilderness.
Key Statistics
Rank
19th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
550m
Nearest Town
Lochinver
Geology
Sail Gharbh is built from rugged, pebbly sandstone and layers of hard, white quartz-rich rock, creating the dramatic textures you see along the ridge.
Find It
Latitude
58.2151°N
Longitude
5.0499°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Sail Gharbh' translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Rough Heel,' while the wider massif, Quinag (A’ Chuineag), is named for a 'milk pail' or wooden bucket, describing its distinctive curved profile when viewed from the south.
- •Geologically, the summit offers a clear view of the 'great unconformity'; you stand on white Cambrian quartzite that rests upon reddish Torridonian sandstone, all of which sits atop the 3-billion-year-old Lewisian gneiss visible in the glens below.
- •The summit cairn provides one of the best vantage points in Assynt for viewing the iconic, isolated peaks of the north-west, specifically the hulking form of Arkle and the distinctive notched profile of Foinaven to the north.
- •Most walkers bag this Corbett as part of a grander three-peak traverse, though the direct ascent via the Bealach a’ Chàirn involves crossing a complex landscape of glacial erratic boulders and sandstone terraces.
- •Despite being the highest point of the massif, Sail Gharbh is often overlooked by photographers in favour of its neighbour Spidean Coinich, which has the advantage of being the first thing tourists see from the road.