Schiehallion

About Schiehallion

Schiehallion (‘Fairy Hill of the Caledonians’ in Gaelic) is situated in Perth and Kinross, and is notable for a number of reasons. Not only is it said to be the centre point of Scotland, but it was also once used in the 18th century as part of an experiment to estimate the total mass of the Earth. It has a long archaeological history and is also rich in plant life, with heathers, mosses and blaeberry as well as a number of flowering plants in season.

Its elevation is 1,083 m (3,553 ft) and it stands isolated from its neighbouring peaks. Its appearance is almost perfectly conical in views from the west, and it is extremely popular with visitors because it is easy to access and ascend, providing superb views from its summit. Measures have been taken in recent years to protect the mountain from erosion, including the construction of a new path for ascents to the summit.