Foinaven
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2008-06-23T01:51:07Z
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{{for|the oil field|Foinaven oilfield}}
{{for|the racehorse|Foinavon}}
{{Infobox Mountain
| Name = Foinaven - Ganu Mòr
| Photo = Foinaven_from_Achriesgill.jpg
| Caption = Foinaven seen from Achriesgill on Loch Inchard
| Elevation = 911 m (2,988 ft) <ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6732715.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |title=Hill does not measure up to Munro |date=[[2007-06-08]]}}</ref>
| Location = [[Sutherland]], [[Scotland]]
| Range =
| Prominence = 690 m
| Parent peak = [[Ben Klibreck]]
| Coordinates =
| Topographic map = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 9
| Type =
| First ascent =
| Easiest route =
| Grid_ref_UK = NC315507
| Listing = [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]], [[Corbett (hill)|Corbett]]
| Translation = White hill - Big wedge
| Language = [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]
| Pronunciation = fɔɪnɑvɛn], [gænu mɔr
}}
'''Foinaven''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: '''Fionne Bheinn''') is a [[mountain]] in [[Scotland]], situated in the far north-west corner of the [[Scottish Highlands]]. Like many of the [[monolith]]ic mountains that surround it, the mountain is within the [[Moine Thrust Belt]] and is made up of imbricated layers of [[quartzite]] which overlie the older Lewisian [[gneiss]] basement. The quartzite, being tougher, stood firm when all the surrounding rock was eroded away, leaving the huge mountain isolated.
Foinaven is not difficult to climb but it is about five miles from the nearest road. All ascents therefore require a long and strenuous [[Hiking|hike]] over a wild landscape covered in [[peat]] [[groughs]] and tiny [[lochans]] that restrict progress. When you arrive at the bottom of the mountain there is then a steep climb followed by a scramble along a sharp ridge to the highest point, '''Ganu Mòr'''. Very strong walkers can continue onwards, taking in Foinaven's smaller neighbour, [[Arkle (hill)|Arkle]]. Sitting on the summit ridge one can constantly hear the shifting and sliding of the quartzite [[scree]]s below the crags — an eerie sound that never stops.
As from all the North West Highland peaks the panorama is very good — a combination of sea, loch and mountain that is further enhanced by Foinaven's proximity to the sea — that is if you are lucky enough to get a clear day.
Foinaven was thought to be a [[Munro]], but it actually falls twelve feet short of the required 3,000 ft [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=902022007]
==See also==
*[[Foinavon]] (note different spelling) and [[Arkle]] were also the names of two [[Ireland|Irish]] thoroughbred [[steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] [[racehorse]]s owned by the Duchess of Westminster (wife of the late [[Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster]]) in the 1960s. They were named after the mountains.
*The name Foinaven has also been applied to one of the North Sea oil fields, operated by [[BP]]. [http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/foinaven/]
==References==
<References/>
{{coor title d|58.41210|N|4.88603|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NC315507)}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
[[Category:Marilyns of Scotland]]
[[Category:Corbetts]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Northwest Highlands]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North West Sutherland]]