Creag Meagaidh
Encyclopedia
Creag Meagaidh is a mountain on the northern side of Glen Spean in Scotland
. It is a complex mountain, taking the form of a flat summit plateau
from which five ridges radiate, and is most famed for the cliff
s surrounding the corrie
of Coire Ardair on the north-eastern face. These crags are a renowned venue for winter and ice climbing
, though being somewhat vegetated
they are less suited to "normal" climbing
.
The name Creag Meagaidh is sometimes anglicised (in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner) to "Craig Maggie". The name is also applied to refer to the neighbouring peaks of Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Carn Liath, which together may be termed the Creag Meagaidh range.
All three peaks in the range may be climbed from Aberarder
on the A86 road
by initially following the path leading up Coire Ardair, before striking north to the summit of Carn Liath. A circuit of the glen may be made by returning to Aberarder by way of Creag Meagaidh's east ridge. The most direct route to the summit of Creag Meagaidh ascends from the head of the corrie to reach a narrow gap between the crags known as The Window. The Window forms the bealach between Creag Meagaidh and Stob Poite Coire Ardair. Creag Meagaidh may also be climbed from Moy
to the southeast.
Creag Meagaidh is designated as both a Special Protection Area
and a National Nature Reserve
, as the number of grazing animals is controlled. This has led to a regrowth of the native woodland of birch
, alder
, willow
, rowan
and oak
. The site is also an important breeding ground for many species of birds, in particular the dotterel
Charadrius morinellus.
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...
. It is a complex mountain, taking the form of a flat summit 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...
from which five ridges radiate, and is most famed for the cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s surrounding the 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 Coire Ardair on the north-eastern face. These crags are a renowned venue for winter and ice climbing
Ice climbing
Ice climbing, as the term indicates, is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations. Usually, ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. For the purposes of...
, though being somewhat vegetated
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
they are less suited to "normal" climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
.
The name Creag Meagaidh is sometimes anglicised (in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner) to "Craig Maggie". The name is also applied to refer to the neighbouring peaks of Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Carn Liath, which together may be termed the Creag Meagaidh range.
All three peaks in the range may be climbed from Aberarder
Aberarder
Aberarder is a hamlet to the south of Loch Ruthven, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. It lies on the B851 road, to the east of Loch Ness. After the Rising of 1745, Aberarder was owned by the Farquharsons of Invercauld....
on the A86 road
A86 road
The A86 is a major road in Scotland, United Kingdom, it runs from Spean Bridge to Kingussie. It is a primary route for all of its length.Travelling along this route carries a medium to high risk of suffering a death or serious injury accident according to EuroRAP.-References:...
by initially following the path leading up Coire Ardair, before striking north to the summit of Carn Liath. A circuit of the glen may be made by returning to Aberarder by way of Creag Meagaidh's east ridge. The most direct route to the summit of Creag Meagaidh ascends from the head of the corrie to reach a narrow gap between the crags known as The Window. The Window forms the bealach between Creag Meagaidh and Stob Poite Coire Ardair. Creag Meagaidh may also be climbed from Moy
Moy
-Places:* Loch Moy, a loch south of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.** Moy, Highland, a village beside Loch Moy** Moy Hall, also near the loch and the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Mackintosh** Rout of Moy, an event in the Jacobite rising of 1745...
to the southeast.
Creag Meagaidh is designated as both a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
and a National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
, as the number of grazing animals is controlled. This has led to a regrowth of the native woodland of birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
, willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
, rowan
Rowan
The rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or small trees in genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. The site is also an important breeding ground for many species of birds, in particular the dotterel
Eurasian Dotterel
The Eurasian Dotterel , or in Europe just Dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds.It breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Eurasia, from Norway to eastern Siberia, and on suitable mountain plateaus such as the Scottish highlands and the Alps...
Charadrius morinellus.