Ross and Cromarty - Landscape

Landscape

The district is famous for its mountainous scenery, especially in the west, in an area known as Wester Ross. It includes the Torridon Hills composed of Precambrian Torridonian sandstone over Lewisian gneiss, and capped by Cambrian quartzite. The latter rocks often give the appearance of a snow topping when they cap a specific peak. The Torridons comprise individual mountains such as Beinn Eighe and Liathach, with related peaks Slioch and An Teallach to the north. Although many peaks in the North-west highlands exhibit Torridon geology, the Torridon hills are generally considered only to be those in the Torridon Forest to the north of Glen Torridon. Specifically, these are:

• Liathach
• Beinn Eighe
• Beinn Alligin
• Beinn Dearg

Hills between Glen Torridon and Strath Carron share much of the splendour and character of the main hills, although perhaps less of the drama:

• Beinn Liath Mhòr
• Sgorr Ruadh
• Maol Cheann-dearg
• Beinn Damh
• An Ruadh-stac
• Fuar Tholl

The Torridon Hills exhibit some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the British Isles, surpassed in grandeur probably only by the Cuillins of Skye. The black Cuillins are composed of igneous gabbro, and represent the remains of a magma chamber, part of Tertiary igneous activity connected with the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Accessible peaks include Sgurr Alasdair in the west and Sgurr nan Gillean in the east. The red Cuillin to the south is composed of granite of a similar age.