Ben Loyal
Ben Loyal (from Scottish Gaelic Beinn Laghail) is an isolated mountain of 764 m in Sutherland, the northwestern tip of the Scottish Highlands. It is a Corbett located south of the Kyle of Tongue and offers good views of the Kyle, Loch Loyal to the east, and Ben Hope to the west.
Ben Loyal | |
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Beinn Laghail | |
Ben Loyal from the north. An Caisteal is the jagged peak second from the left. | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 764 m (2,507 ft) |
Prominence | 609 m (1,998 ft) |
Parent peak | Ben Hope |
Listing | Corbett, Marilyn |
Naming | |
Pronunciation | /ˌbɛn ˈlɔɪ.əl/ |
Geography | |
Location | Sutherland, Scotland |
OS grid | NC578488 |
Topo map | OS Landranger 10 |
Ben Loyal is composed chiefly of granite, specifically syenite, and has a distinctive shape due to the four rocky peaks, the highest of which is called An Caisteal. To the north of An Caisteal is the 712 m Sgòr Chaonasaid, to the south is Bheinn Bheag (744 m), which cannot be seen in the photograph opposite, and to the west is the ridge of Sgòr a Chèirich, 644 m at its highest point. The fourth peak in the picture is the 568 m Sgòr Fionnaich.
Ben Loyal's name is thought to mean "law mountain", although the derivation via its modern Gaelic name is not certain.