Tom a' Choinnich [Tom a' Choinich]

About Tom a' Choinnich [Tom a' Choinich]

Reaching deep into the wilderness between Glen Affric and Glen Cannich, this Munro is defined by its rugged quartzite scree and sharp summit ridge. Often paired with neighbouring Carn Eige, the high plateau offers an earned perspective over the remote Loch Mullardoch and the distant, jagged silhouettes of the Kintail peaks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Gaelic, with 'Tom' meaning a rounded hill or hillock and 'Choinnich' referring to moss. It translates as 'Hill of the Moss,' a description that fits the lower boggy slopes better than its shattered, stony summit.
• •It is almost exclusively climbed as part of a long day-trip alongside its higher neighbour, Carn Eige. The col between the two, Bealach na Baigre, sits at 831 metres, requiring a significant re-ascent when tackling the ridge from the Glen Affric side.
• •From the summit, the view north is dominated by the long, narrow finger of Loch Mullardoch, while to the south, the remnants of the ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Glen Affric are visible in the valley floor.
• •The upper reaches are characterized by shattered Moine schist, creating a terrain of grey boulders and scree that makes for slow going in mist and can be particularly treacherous in icy conditions.
• •Despite being a Munro of significant stature, its proximity to Carn Eige—the highest point in the Highlands north of the Great Glen—means it is frequently treated by baggers as a mere waypoint on the way to the main event.