An Socach

An Socach stands in the remote Highland council area between Glen Affric and Loch Mullardoch. Its Gaelic name means something like ‘the projecting place’ or ‘the beak’. At 921 metres it is classed as a Munro, yet compared with nearby giants such as Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan and Mam Sodhail it appears modest. The mountain sits on the connecting ridge linking those two peaks, forming part of a horseshoe-shaped chain around Gleann a’ Choilich. A high saddle at about 800 metres separates it from Stob Coire na Cloiche to the west, while Bealach Coire Ghàidheil at roughly 720 metres divides it from Mam Sodhail to the north-east. The south-east ridge drops steeply down to Glen Affric, ending in a lower summit called An Sornach. Climbers often combine An Socach with the neighbouring Munros, tackling the connecting ridge in one outing. Walkers can also start directly from Glen Affric by following either Coire na Cloiche or Coire Ghàidheil. The valley heads are so far from any road that most people stay overnight at Alltbeithe, a youth hostel reached only on foot. The final slopes are rocky, crowned by a small cairn that marks the highest point. From the summit the eye travels over the vast wilderness of Affric and the rounded tops of the Kintail range. The mountain’s flanks fall away steeply on the east into Coire Ghàidheil, while the west side slopes more gently into Coire na Cloiche. The north face plunges into Gleann a’ Choilich, and the south-east ridge ends abruptly above the glen. The rocky summit offers no shelter, only wide views of the surrounding ridges and lochs. The approach through Coire na Cloiche passes waterfalls and birch woods before reaching the open high corrie. From Alltbeithe the path climbs steadily, passing through heather and granite slabs until the final rocky scramble to the ridge.