Cnoc an Fhreiceadain
| Cnoc an Fhreiceadain | |
| Sutherland | |
|---|---|
 Cnoc an Fhreiceadain across the Kyle of Tongue | |
| Summit: | 1,007 feet NC61125943 58°30’3"N, 4°23’5"W |
Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is a hill of 1,007 feet in Sutherland, rising steeply and overlooking the Kyle of Tongue on the north coast of the county, and of Great Britain. The village of Coldbackie stands at the foot of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain's north slope.
The A836 north coast road works its way around the north and west sides of the hill, heading for the Kyle of Tongue Causeway.
The name of the hill is Gaelic, for 'Hill of Watching' or 'Watch Hill', which describes well a height from which a watch might be kept for ships approaching the Kyle with ill intent, or travellers by land approaching the fording place.
Geologically, Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is of Old Red Sandstone, a conglomerate dating from the Paleozoic era around 400 million years ago.[1]
On television
In 2004 as part of the BBC programme Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson drove a Land Rover Discovery 3 from sea level to the summit of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain.[2] The programme was criticised by the Mountaineering Council for Scotland for the potential impact of the climb on peat bogs and heather environments.[3]
References
- ↑ The Watch Hill - Coldbackie.org (2004)
- ↑ Top Gear: Series 5, Episode 3 - Top Gear Box
- ↑ 'Clarkson in deep peat over 4x4 ride: The Guardian 4 November 2004