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.

• •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.