A' Chailleach

A’ Chailleach stands in the Fannich mountains of Wester Ross, a lone Munro reaching 997 metres above the wilds of the Northwest Highlands. Its Gaelic name means ‘the old woman’, a figure tied to the storms and seasons of the land. From the summit the Fisherfield Forest spreads out below, a vast tract of ancient woodland and open moor. To the east An Teallach lifts its jagged ridges against the sky, offering a striking contrast of rock and heather. Walkers often pair the climb with nearby Sgurr Breac, another fine peak in the same group. The nearest settlement is Kinlochewe, a small village to the south-west where the road ends and the hills begin. The mountain is valued for its remoteness and the sense of space it provides. Its height places the walker above the treeline, where only granite tors and wind-bent grass remain. The views extend for many kilometres on clear days, taking in lochs and glens that appear untouched by modern life. The route up is rough and unmarked, demanding careful navigation across bog and boulder. Those who reach the top find only the sound of the wind and the distant cry of ravens. On the slopes below, herds of red deer move quietly through the heather. Golden plovers nest on the high moorland, their calls carrying across the empty land. The lower slopes give way to birch and Scots pine, remnants of the ancient Caledonian forest. Kinlochewe’s loch reflects the hills in calm weather, a mirror for the peaks that surround it. From here the Fannichs rise like a wall of green and grey, their summits catching the last light of the day.