Cnoc an Fhreiceadain
Encyclopedia
Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is a seaside mountain peak in northern Scotland
. It is modest in height at 312 m (approximately 1000 feet), 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.
Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is an Old Red Sandstone
conglomerate, and is around 400 Million Years old, dating from the middle of the Paleozoic
era. The rocks are fairly loose and friable, and not particularly suitable for climbing, although some of the chimneys have been ascended. Travelling from the east along the coast, Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is the first hill of any significance that the traveller meets in Sutherland
.
In 2004 as part of the BBC
's Top Gear
motoring programme, Jeremy Clarkson
drove a Land Rover Discovery 3
from sea level to the top of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is modest in height at 312 m (approximately 1000 feet), but both commands the township of Coldbackie
Coldbackie
Coldbackie is a crofting township in Sutherland and is in the Scottish council area of Highland Scotland.-Geography:Coldbackie lies at the head of the Kyle of Tongue, two miles north east of Tongue. It sits under the Watch Hill, looking north over a spectacular beach to the Rabbit Islands...
and provides dramatic views across to Kyle of Tongue, to Orkney in the east, and Arkle
Arkle (hill)
Arkle is a mountain in Sutherland, situated in the far north-west corner of the Scottish Highlands. Like its sister Foinaven, the mountain is made up of glistening white Cambrian quartzite, laid down around 530 million years ago on an uneven basement of much older Lewisian gneiss...
in the West.
Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is an Old Red Sandstone
Old Red Sandstone
The Old Red Sandstone is a British rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. For convenience the short version of the term, 'ORS' is often used in literature on the subject.-Sedimentology:...
conglomerate, and is around 400 Million Years old, dating from the middle of the Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
era. The rocks are fairly loose and friable, and not particularly suitable for climbing, although some of the chimneys have been ascended. Travelling from the east along the coast, Cnoc an Fhreiceadain is the first hill of any significance that the traveller meets in Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
.
In 2004 as part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
motoring programme, Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
drove a Land Rover Discovery 3
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1989. The company code-named the vehicle "Project Jay". The new model was based on the chassis and drivetrain of the more upmarket Range Rover, but with a lower price aimed at a larger market segment and intended to compete with Japanese...
from sea level to the top of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain.