Scotland
Sithean Dubh
688M
2258FT
About Sithean Dubh
Rising above the southern reaches of Loch Ness, this heathery Monadhliath summit offers a quiet alternative to the busier Great Glen trails. Its peaty slopes require careful footing, but the reward is a magnificent perspective west across the water toward the rugged, high peaks of Glen Shiel and Kintail.
Key Statistics
Rank
190th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
35.6m
Nearest Town
Whitebridge
Geology
You are walking on cooled crystalline magma that trapped large chunks of hardened, sandy rock as it solidified deep underground.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH523045
Latitude
57.1077°N
Longitude
4.4403°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Sìthean Dubh', which translates as 'Black Fairy Hill'. In Highland folklore, a sìthean was traditionally believed to be a hollow green mound or hillock inhabited by the Aos Sí, or fairy folk.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the linear geography of the Great Glen, looking directly down into the village of Fort Augustus and the Caledonian Canal locks.
- •The hill sits just north of the Corrieyairack Pass, an 18th-century military road built by General Wade to connect Fort Augustus with Dalwhinnie, which remains a popular long-distance route for walkers and cyclists.
- •Despite the mystical name, you are far more likely to encounter a startled red grouse or a deep patch of Monadhliath peat hag than any supernatural residents.