Druim Fada

Druim Fada stands on the long ridge that runs south from the 974-metre Stob a’ Ghrianain in the western Highlands. The mountain lies along the old road from Mallaig to Fort William, where the land rises steeply above Glen Finnan. Its Gaelic name means ‘long ridge’, and the ridge itself stretches for several kilometres without losing height. The summit is marked by a small cairn, a simple pile of stones left by walkers. From here the view stretches west to the islands of the Inner Hebrides and east to the Grey Corries. The ridge is recognised by three hill lists: it is a Marilyn, a Graham and a HuMP. Marilyns measure relative height, Grahams measure height and prominence, and HuMPs are hills with a height between 600 and 1,000 metres. The last survey of the summit was carried out in October 2001 by a team from the Database of British and Irish Hills. Many local walking clubs keep the records up to date and share new measurements online. On the slopes below the ridge the ground is rough with heather and bog cotton. The path follows the line of an old drove road used for moving cattle in the 19th century. Sheep graze freely across the lower slopes, and golden eagles are sometimes seen hunting above the glen. The ridge itself is narrow in places, with steep drops on either side, so care is needed in poor weather.