The mountain is composed of Torridonian sandstone on a base of Lewisian Gneiss and has steep crags on three sides and allows easy access for the walker only from the south east where the large open corrie of Coire na Sleaghaich has two ridges on its flanks which the walker can use. The mountain's name comes from the Gaelic word sleagh and means the spear and this only becomes obvious when Slioch is viewed from Lochan Fada to the north-east, from here the subsidiary top of Sgurr an Tuill Bhain (Peak of the White Hollow) (933 metres) dominates as a slender peak and gives the mountain its name. Wild goats are often seen on the mountain.