An Socach (Glen Affric)

An Socach
Ross-shire, Inverness-shire
Range:	Affric Hills
Summit:	3,022 feet NH088230 57°15’27"N, 5°10’18"W

An Socach is a mountain on the border of Ross-shire with Inverness-shire, which reaches a height of 3,022 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro.

The mountain is connected to its much larger neighbouring Munros, Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan to the west and Mam Sodhail to the east. There is also a south ridge that leads down to Glen Affric west of Loch Affric. The connecting ridges are steep with crags on either side.

An Socach is usually climbed from either of its neighbouring peaks but it can be climbed easily on its own by climbing either of the corries that back onto the southern ridge (Coire na Cloiche and Coire Ghaidheil) where there are moderate slopes.

The summit gives fine views both to west and east to An Socach's much larger neighbours, and the complex ridge system of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan looks particularly fine from here.

There is a youth hostel almost directly south of An Socach in Glen Affric from which many a climb begins. A common approach is from Loch Affric to the east where there is parking available at its eastern end.