Beinn Mheadhoin
Encyclopedia
Beinn Mheadhoin is a mountain
in Scotland
. By some counts it is the tenth highest mountain of Great Britain
. It lies in the very heart of the Cairngorm mountains
, and is one of the most remote hills in the region.
The summit is broad and flat. It is noted for its summit tors; large boulders left by retreating ice sheets at the end of the last ice age
. The highest point of the hill is in fact the top of one of the largest tors, and an easy scramble
is required to reach it.
Due to the remoteness of the mountain, it is necessary to climb over the main Cairn Gorm plateau
in order to ascend Beinn Mheadhoin. The shortest route of ascent is from the Coire Cas car park at the foot of the Cairn Gorm
ski
area, initially heading for the ridge of Fiacaill a' Choire Chais. From the head of the ridge the walker then descends to Loch Avon via Coire
Raibert. The route then goes round the head of the loch, passing the famous Shelter Stone, before rising again to reach Loch Etchachan. From here the route heads northeast onto the summit ridge. This route is about 20 km in length, with 1400 m of ascent required.
Beinn Mheadhoin may also be climbed from the south, via Glen Derry. This route is much longer, though a bicycle
can be used on the track to shorten the time taken. An ascent from this direction could conceivably be combined with an ascent of Derry Cairngorm
.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in Scotland
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...
. By some counts it is the tenth highest mountain of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. It lies in the very heart of the Cairngorm mountains
Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name - Cairn Gorm.-Name:...
, and is one of the most remote hills in the region.
The summit is broad and flat. It is noted for its summit tors; large boulders left by retreating ice sheets at the end of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. The highest point of the hill is in fact the top of one of the largest tors, and an easy scramble
Scrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
is required to reach it.
Due to the remoteness of the mountain, it is necessary to climb over the main Cairn Gorm plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
in order to ascend Beinn Mheadhoin. The shortest route of ascent is from the Coire Cas car park at the foot of the Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore. At 1245 metres it is the sixth highest mountain in the United Kingdom...
ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
area, initially heading for the ridge of Fiacaill a' Choire Chais. From the head of the ridge the walker then descends to Loch Avon via Coire
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
Raibert. The route then goes round the head of the loch, passing the famous Shelter Stone, before rising again to reach Loch Etchachan. From here the route heads northeast onto the summit ridge. This route is about 20 km in length, with 1400 m of ascent required.
Beinn Mheadhoin may also be climbed from the south, via Glen Derry. This route is much longer, though a bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
can be used on the track to shorten the time taken. An ascent from this direction could conceivably be combined with an ascent of Derry Cairngorm
Derry Cairngorm
Derry Cairngorm is a Scottish mountain in the Cairngorms range, 14 kilometres north west of Braemar in the county of Aberdeenshire.- Overview :...
.