Ben Loyal and the Mountains of the West
Taken from the summit of the Watch Hill, above Coldbackie.
Charlie and I climbed up on Saturday afternoon, with a couple of camera's, a tripod, and a few bottle's of beer. This time of year, with broken clouds and a low afternoon sun, often produces quite dramatic moody photos.
This one is a case in point.
At 1008 feet, Cnoc an Fhreiceadain (Hill of Watching) is modest in height, but both commands the township of Coldbackie and provides dramatic views across to Kyle of Tongue, to Orkney in the east, and Arkle in the West.
"a femicircular chain of mountains paffes nearly through the middle of the parifh, the principal of which are Knok-Rheacadan (the Watchman's Hill), Ben Loaghal and Ben Hope"
Old statistical account of the Parish of Tongue 1799
Its also famous/infamous as the "Scottish Mountain" that Jeremy Clarkson drove a Discovery Landrover up on Top Gear a few years ago. The episode is often repeated on the "best of Top Gear" type programmes, and has attracted the ire of many conservation and Mountaineering groups. Interestingly Charlie and I spent a good 40 mins wandering around the summit and upper slops looking for the exact route they took, and there is no evidence that a Landrover and film crew were ever there.
