Mam Sodhail

Mam Sodhail is a Munro in the Northwest Highlands, standing beside Carn Eige in the quiet country north of Glen Affric. It reaches 1 181 metres and is the second highest mountain north of the Great Glen. The two peaks form twin mountains linked by a high col of about 1 045 metres. They rise above Gleann nam Fiadh, a glen known as the Glen of the Deer. The mountain has four named tops and long ridges that drop towards Glen Affric. Mam Sodhail is mostly grass with fine corries and few rocks, making it a fine mountain for walking. The east-southeast ridge runs for four kilometres and ends at Sgurr na Lapaich, which was once listed as a Munro. The western flanks fall away towards Gleann a’ Choilich, which drains into Loch Mullardoch. The Ordnance Survey used the summit in the 1840s and left a massive hollow cairn with a visitors’ book inside. The summit also holds the remains of a small bothy used by deerstalkers and watchers. A stalker’s path up Coire Leachavie leads to the car park at the road end in Glen Affric. From the top walkers see Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and Carn Eige close by and distant mountains crowd the view. Many walkers add Carn Eige to the day’s route, and strong walkers may climb remote Beinn Fhionnlaidh to the north.