Slioch

Slioch is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, eight kilometres north of Kinlochewe in Wester Ross. It stands above the southeastern end of Loch Maree and reaches 981 metres. The mountain is composed of Torridonian sandstone on a base of Lewisian Gneiss. Its steep crags make access easy only from the southeast. The name comes from the Gaelic word for spear, which describes its shape when viewed from Lochan Fada. Feral goats are often seen on the slopes. The climb starts at Incheril, one kilometre east of Kinlochewe. A flat five-kilometre walk along the Kinlochewe River and Loch Maree leads to a 100-metre waterfall. The path then turns northwest into Gleann Bianasdail, where the ascent begins. After one kilometre, it reaches Coire na Sleaghaich and follows the southeast ridge to the summit. The return can include the subsidiary top of Sgùrr an Tuill Bhàin before descending into the corrie. The summit has twin pinnacles, one with a trig point at 980 metres. The northern pinnacle offers a finer viewpoint over the cliffs. From the top, views stretch to the Fisherfield Forest and its five Munros. Loch Maree and the Torridon mountains are also visible. The mountain’s isolation and the waterways on three sides add to its dramatic setting.