An Socach

The An Socach is a 1,069-metre Munro and Marilyn in the Scottish Highlands. It stands about 20 kilometres west of Cannich, part of a four-Munro ridge running east to west. This ridge separates Loch Mullardoch to the south from Loch Monar in Glen Strathfarrar to the north. The mountain’s broad summit crest curves like a half-circle from south to northeast, with steep grassy slopes on most sides. Only the south-east corrie, Coire Mhàim, shows some rocky outcrops and small lochans above wet, marshy ground lower down. The peak is reached only after long approaches across empty moorland and along loch shores. Most climbers start from the dam at the end of the single-track road at Loch Mullardoch. They often combine An Socach with the nearby An Riabhachan or include it in a round of all four Munros. One route follows the north shore of Loch Mullardoch into Coire Mhàim and up the south-east ridge. Another option is to cross from An Riabhachan along the connecting ridge. From Glen Strathfarrar, walkers can also begin at the road’s end east of Loch Monar and climb via An Riabhachan or directly over Coire Ghorm Mòr and the north ridge. A less common start is the small village of Killilan in Kintail, west of the ridge. On the summit stands a trig point marking the highest point. Four ridges radiate from the plateau: two long ones head southwest and southeast, the latter dropping to the loch’s north shore. A short northern ridge leads into Coire Ghorm Mòr, while the eastern ridge joins the Bealach a’ Bholla col and continues to An Riabhachan. The view from the top looks across the wild glens and lochs of the central Highlands, with the distant peaks of Kintail and Affric framing the scene.