Scotland
Sail Gharbh West Top
745M
2444FT
About Sail Gharbh West Top
Sitting on the northern arm of the Quinag massif, this rugged spur offers a gritty alternative to the main summits. It provides a grandstand view across the loch-strewn Assynt landscape toward the Atlantic. The terrain is classic Torridonian sandstone, characterised by shattered rock and steep drops into the corries below.
Key Statistics
Rank
47th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
42m
Nearest Town
Unapool
Geology
You are walking across Cape Wrath Sandstone, a rugged blend of gritty sand layers filled with smooth pebbles and coarse, stony rock.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC200289
Latitude
58.2123°N
Longitude
5.0641°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Sàil Gharbh, meaning 'Rough Heel'. In Highland topography, 'sàil' often refers to a prominent ridge or the end of a mountain range that resembles a heel in profile.
- •The hill is located within the Quinag estate, which has been managed by the John Muir Trust since 2005 to protect its unique heathland and peatland habitats.
- •From this specific top, the view north is dominated by the complex, island-studded waters of Eddrachillis Bay and the scattered settlements of the Sutherland coast.
- •It is a significant point for geologists, marking a clear boundary where the ancient Lewisian Gneiss basement is capped by the younger, reddish layers of Torridonian sandstone.
- •In the eyes of many walkers, this top serves primarily as a convenient place to pause and wonder why the main summit of Sail Gharbh still looks so far away.