Braeriach
Encyclopedia
Braeriach is the third highest mountain in Great Britain
, surpassed only by Ben Nevis
and Ben Macdui
. It is the highest point in the western massif of the Cairngorms
, separated from the central section (containing Ben Macdui and Cairn Gorm
) by the pass of the Lairig Ghru
. The summit has a crescent shape, with several corrie
s. In the north-facing corrie
of Garbh Coire Mor the snow
has completely melted just 5 times in the last century: 1933, 1959, 1996, 2003 & 2006 and the patches that linger there are the longest lying snow patches in Scotland
.
Probably the most commonly used route up Braeriach starts from Sugar Bowl car park, on the road leading the Cairn Gorm
ski area. From here a path leads over the hillside to a steep sided rocky ravine known as the Chalamain Gap, before descending around 100 m to the Lairig Ghru. After crossing this pass the route heads for the summit via Braeriach's north ridge, crossing a subsidiary peak, Sròn na Lairige. The summit is around 9 km from the car park by this route.
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...
, surpassed only by Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
and Ben Macdui
Ben Macdhui (Scotland)
Ben Macdui is the second highest mountain in the United Kingdom after Ben Nevis, and the highest in the Cairngorms. After the defeat of Domnall mac Uilliam in 1187, Donnchad II, Earl of Fife, acquired Strathavon, territory stretching from Ballindalloch to Ben Macdui; because the mountain marked...
. It is the highest point in the western massif of the Cairngorms
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:...
, separated from the central section (containing Ben Macdui and 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...
) by the pass of the Lairig Ghru
Lairig Ghru
The Lairig Ghru is one of the mountain passes through the Cairngorms of Scotland.Like many traditional routes the ends of the route through the Lairig Ghru are like the ends of a frayed rope. From the south the Lairig Ghru can be approached from Braemar though Glen Lui, or Glen Dee, and from Blair...
. The summit has a crescent shape, with several corrie
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...
s. In the north-facing corrie
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...
of Garbh Coire Mor the snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
has completely melted just 5 times in the last century: 1933, 1959, 1996, 2003 & 2006 and the patches that linger there are the longest lying snow patches in Scotland
Snow patches in Scotland
Long-lying snow patches in Scotland have been noted from at least the 18th century, with snow patches on Ben Nevis being observed well into summer and autumn...
.
Probably the most commonly used route up Braeriach starts from Sugar Bowl car park, on the road leading 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 area. From here a path leads over the hillside to a steep sided rocky ravine known as the Chalamain Gap, before descending around 100 m to the Lairig Ghru. After crossing this pass the route heads for the summit via Braeriach's north ridge, crossing a subsidiary peak, Sròn na Lairige. The summit is around 9 km from the car park by this route.