The Boar And The Sow

The two hills closest to the road and guarding the western approach to our route are known as the Boar of Badenoch and the Sow of Atholl. The Sow, is a Corbett at 803m (2,635ft). The Gaelic name of its northern neighbour is An Torc, The Boar, and it is indeed in the district of Badenoch – so its English translation is accurate. Hamish Brown reckons the Sow’s name is much more recent and fanciful however. In his Climbing The Corbetts, he says it’s probably a fairly recent invention, given to balance its partner. The hill’s original name is Meall an Dobhrachan, or Watercress Hill.