Slioch

About Slioch

Rising like a fortress above the southeastern shores of Loch Maree, this Torridonian giant requires a long, flat approach from Kinlochewe before the real work begins. Its tiered sandstone crags hide a relatively straightforward ascent through Coire na Sleaghaich, leading to views across the Fisherfield Forest and the white screes of Beinn Eighe.

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Did You Know?

• •Derived from the Gaelic An t-Sleaghach, meaning 'The Spear,' the name reflects the mountain’s jagged profile when viewed from Lochan Fada to the northeast. From the popular perspective at Loch Maree, the mountain appears more like a massive, square-set fortress than a pointed blade.
• •The mountain’s sheer scale and its reflection in Loch Maree have made it one of the most iconic sights in the Highlands; it is frequently featured in national tourism campaigns for VisitScotland as a shorthand for the rugged character of Wester Ross.
• •Slioch showcases the classic geology of the North West Highlands, with a massive cap of ancient Torridonian sandstone sitting upon an even older base of Lewisian gneiss, a rock formed over three billion years ago.
• •Feral goats are frequently encountered on the lower slopes and crags of the mountain, often heard bleating from the rocks long before they are spotted against the grey stone.
• •The summit offers a commanding perspective over the 'Great Wilderness' of Fisherfield to the north, including the remote peaks of A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mòr, while the shimmering expanse of Loch Maree stretches out directly below the western cliffs.
• •The four-mile walk-in along the banks of the Kinlochewe River provides ample time to contemplate the fact that the mountain is getting no closer, despite your best efforts at a brisk pace.