Slioch

Slioch, at 981 metres — meaning "the spear" in Gaelic — is one of the most familiar and photographed mountains in the Highlands, its craggy fortress-like profile across the waters of Loch Maree adorning countless calendars and brochures, and a fine viewpoint over the Fisherfield wilderness to the north.

The route starts from a car park at Incheril, near Kinlochewe. A path heads north-west along a fence line through sheep pastures, crossing the Allt Chnaimhean via a wooden bridge into pretty birch woodland before following the Kinlochewe River downstream and reaching the shores of Loch Maree, regarded by many as the most beautiful loch in Scotland. The path continues along the shore to a bridge over the Abhainn an Fhasaigh, beyond which it forks — the route to Slioch turns right, climbing gradually into Gleann Bianasdail before a steep, well-trodden path leads up to the saddle between Meall Each and Sgùrr Dubh, curving left into the boggy but genuinely impressive bowl of Coire na Sleaghaich. From here, the main route zig-zags onto Slioch's south-east shoulder — a steep, stony climb, quite eroded in places — passing two small "twin lochans" before crossing a minor top on the mountain's unusually extensive summit plateau.

The plateau holds two summits: a trig point on the southern top, and the true, marginally higher summit on the northern peak, standing at the airy apex of the mountain's craggy northern and western faces — the view here is among the finest of any Munro, with island-studded Loch Maree stretching to the sea and a hint of the Western Isles beyond, the Torridon peaks arrayed to the south, and the vast wilderness of Fisherfield and Letterewe unfolding to the north. Wild goats, descended from domestic stock kept centuries ago, are sometimes seen on the mountain's flanks.

For variety, the return can incorporate the east ridge, An t-Aon Cheum, or the neighbouring top of Sgùrr an Tuill Bhàin, before descending back into the corrie to rejoin the outward path.

The round trip from Incheril is around 18-19 kilometres with roughly 1,100-1,220 metres of ascent, typically seven to eight hours.

Slioch's unusual topography can be genuinely confusing in mist, and the path — while well-trodden and popular — has become notably eroded and loose in sections; full navigation skills and sturdy footwear are both valuable given how exposed and shelter-free the summit plateau is.

Parking at Incheril is free; there is limited public transport to Kinlochewe.