About Sail Gharbh Far West Top
Perched on the western fringes of the magnificent Quinag massif in Assynt, this rugged satellite peak offers a quiet vantage point above the Atlantic coast. The terrain is typical of the North West Highlands: weathered Torridonian sandstone topped with shattered white quartzite, providing a firm but rocky underfoot experience.
Key Statistics
Rank
80th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Nearest Town
Unapool
Prominence
?
35m
Geology
This peak is formed from Cape Wrath Sandstone, featuring layers of gritty rock packed with gravel and smooth, rounded pebbles.
Classifications
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Sail Gharbh, meaning 'rough heel' or 'rough spur', a fitting description for the craggy, boulder-strewn ridges of the parent Quinag massif.
- •From this western outpost, the view looks directly out over the fragmented coastline of Eddrachillis Bay and the scattered islands of the Atlantic, with the distinctive profile of Handa Island visible to the north.
- •This top provides one of the best perspectives on the 'Great Unconformity' of Assynt, a geological phenomenon where white Cambrian quartzite sits directly atop much older Torridonian sandstone.
- •It is a top for the true completionist; most walkers are content to reach the main summit of Sail Gharbh and call it a day, leaving this particular 'rough heel' to those who enjoy adding extra mileage to an already strenuous day.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC198291
Latitude
58.2145°N
Longitude
5.0683°W