An Socach

An Socach is a mountain in Aberdeenshire, three miles west of the A93 road between Perth and Braemar. Its Gaelic name may mean ‘the snout’ or ‘the sow’, and the summit stands at 944 metres. The hill has a long, rounded shape with two tops, the higher one at the western end. Ordnance Survey maps once showed the eastern top as the highest, but walkers now know the western top is correct. The mountain lies on sheet 43 of the Ordnance Survey and is marked at grid reference 080800. The climb to An Socach attracts Munro baggers who seek all 282 Scottish peaks over 3,000 feet. The most direct route starts from Glen Ey to the north, where the path leads steadily uphill. A longer but more scenic option begins at the Glenshee Ski Centre to the east, though this involves a steep descent into Baddoch Burn and extra climbing on the return. From the summit, the view stretches across the Cairngorms and the surrounding glens. On clear days Ben Macdui and Lochnagar are visible to the west and south. The rounded summit offers a broad, open ridge that walkers can follow for a short distance. The mountain’s shape and height make it a quiet but rewarding destination for those who enjoy high, wild places.