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The pointed top of An Socach with snow lying in its corrie, seen from An Riabhachan.
Glen Affric and Strathfarrar

An Socach

A Munro of 1,069 metres, number 67 of the 282.

Photograph by Ted and Jen (CC BY 2.0)

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

An Socach is the farthest west of the four Munros that stand in a line along the north side of Loch Mullardoch, above Glen Cannich.

Its neighbour An Riabhachan is about three and a half kilometres to the north-east.

Loch Mullardoch is a reservoir. The dam at the head of Glen Cannich was built in 1952 and raised the water by 113 feet, and An Socach is about twelve kilometres west of it in a straight line. The hill is on East Benula North, one of the privately owned sporting estates of Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Cannich.

It is one of three Munros called An Socach, so the Met Office calls this one An Socach (Loch Mullardoch).

Where it stands
North of Loch Mullardoch, whose dam is at the head of Glen Cannich. Of the four hills north of the loch, it is the farthest from the dam.
The ground
The Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group, whose ground runs down to Loch Mullardoch, describes its estates as privately owned and run mainly for sport. Its plan of 2016 puts this summit on East Benula North Estate, north of Loch Mullardoch. Its stalking note of 2016 gave stalking from August to 20 October, none on Sundays, and the main paths and ridges always open to walkers. That is ten years old. For what is current, read Mountaineering Scotland's deer stalking page, which says stag stalking can now take place at any time of year.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's full winter forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026.
Bus
Buses run all year from Inverness to Tomich and Cannich, and Traveline Scotland has the times.
Toilets and food
Cannich Hall, in the village where the Glen Cannich road begins, has public toilets, open 8am to 8pm every day from Easter through October. There are places to eat in Cannich and Tomich, and a shop in Cannich.
On the hill today
−1° to 3°Rain on the summit, 1,069 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

West wind to 14 mph, gusting 31
Rain, about 9 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.16pm, ten hours

Sat 17Drizzle−1° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 15
Sun 18Cloudy−3° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 16
Mon 19Cloudy−5° to 6° on top · 6 mph, gusts 11

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Northwest Highlands forecast, An Socach (Loch Mullardoch), Northwest Highlands mountain forecast, Deer stalking and hill access.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

A broad grassy shoulder of An Socach under a dark cloud.

Photographs by Ted and Jen (CC BY 2.0)

Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NH 100 332
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

Nobody has written from An Socach yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: An Riabhachan, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Sgurr na Lapaich, Carn Eighe. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Mountaineering Scotland's, the Glen Strathfarrar Deer Management Group's, Forestry and Land Scotland's, the Strathglass Heritage Association's and Highland Council's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.