The Cairngorms: Ben Macdhui seen from Carn a'Mhaim

This article is about the Scottish mountain range. See Cairngorm for the variety of quartz crystal originally found there, and Cairn Gorm for the summit of that name.

The Cairngorms are a mountainous region in the Eastern Scottish Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom, consisting of a large elevated plateau adorned with low, rounded glacial mountains. This area became Scotland's second national park (see Cairngorms National Park) on 1st September 2003. The mountains are in the Scottish council areas of Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland.  ©  This image is copyrighted. ...  ©  This image is copyrighted. ... Ben Macdhui (also spelled Ben Macdui, Ben MacDui and Beinn MacDuibh) is the second highest mountain of Great Britain. ... Cairngorm is a variety of quartz crystal originally found in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales A national park is a reserve of land, usually owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... The Cairngorms National Park is a national park in North-eastern Scotland. ... Look up September in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 32 council areas of Scotland form the local government areas of Scotland, all of them unitary authorities. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Moray (Moireibh in Gaelic), one of the 32 unitary council regions (or areas) of Scotland, lies in the north-east of the country and borders on the regions of Aberdeenshire and Highland. ... The Highland Council Area (Roinn na Gàidhealtachd in Gaelic) is a local government area in the Scottish Highlands and the largest local government area in Scotland. ...

The Cairngorms are named after Cairn Gorm (Blue Cairn in the Scottish Gaelic language), the most prominent of the hills as seen from Strathspey; thus the Cairngorms may be said to be the Blue Hills. This name contrasts with the original Gaelic name for the mountains - Am Monadh Ruadh, meaning the Red Hills. Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig; IPA: ) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... Strathisla distillery in Keith, Strathspey Strathspey is the area around the valley of the River Spey, Scotland. ...

Geography

The Cairngorms feature the highest, coldest and snowiest plateaux in the British Isles and is home to four of the five highest mountains in Scotland: In geology and earth science, a plateau (also tableland, plâteau) is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat open country if the uplift was recent in geologic history. ... This article may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

• Ben Macdhui (1309 m)
• Cairn Gorm (1245 m)
• Braeriach (1296 m)
• Cairn Toul (1293 m)

These mountains are all Munros, and there are a further 13 mountains with this categorisation across the area, of which another five are among the twenty highest peaks in the country. Ben Macdhui (also spelled Ben Macdui, Ben MacDui and Beinn MacDuibh) is the second highest mountain of Great Britain. ... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Braeriach is the third highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui. ... Cairn Toul is the fourth highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui and Braeriach. ... Sgurr Fiona and the Corrag Bhuide pinnacles of An Teallach A Munro is a Scottish hill with a height over 3000 feet (914. ...

After she had climbed to the top of Ben Macdhui on 1859-10-07 Queen Victoria wrote, "It had a sublime and solemn effect, so wild, so solitary — no one but ourselves and our little party there . . . I had a little whisky and water, as the people declared pure water would be too chilling." Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ...

The region is drained by the Rivers Dee and Spey; and the latter's two tributaries: the Rivers Feshie and Avon. The River Dee is a 90 mile (140 km) long river, which rises in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and flows to the North Sea. ... The River Spey is a river in Scotland that runs 107 miles (172 km) to the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, making it the second longest river in Scotland. ...

They were created at the end of the last ice age, when the ice caps that covered most of northern Scotland remained static and formed the rounded summits of the mountains of the area. The many valleys are littered with glacial deposits from the period of glacial retreat. The most famous valley is the Lairig Ghru pass, a gouge through the centre of the mountains - a u-shaped valley, that was extensively used by drovers in the 19th Century herding their cattle to market in the Lowlands, from their smallholdings in the Highlands. Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The Lairig Ghru is a pass in the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. ... Drovers were responsible for the long distance driving of animals to market in England. ... The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands (or Gàidhealtachd), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ...

The area is sparsely populated due to the extreme nature of the climate. Snow patches remain on the hills until August while in the Garbh Coire Mor of Braeriach the snow melted just thrice in the last century. In the last few years - a possible indicator of climate change - the quantity and longevity of Cairngorm snow patches has declined significantly. The lowest recorded temperature in the UK has twice been recorded in the Cairngorms, at Braemar, where a temperature of -27.2^oC, was recorded on February 11, 1895 and January 10, 1982. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Braeriach is the third highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years Climate change refers to the variation in the Earths global climate or regional climates over time. ... Snow is precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes. ... Braemar (Scottish Gaelic, Baile a Chaisteil Bhràigh Mhàirr) is a village in the Aberdeenshire Highlands, Scotland, around 58 miles west of Aberdeen, the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee. ... A degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Wildlife

The national park is known for its wildlife. The area also features a primeval forest, one of the last in the British Isles, known as the Caledonian Forest. Much of the remains of this forest are found within the national park. Primeval forest is a term often used interchangeably with old growth forest to refer to substantial wooded areas which have been untouched by the effect of humans. ... The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of the Scottish Highlands, Scotland, UK. Today, however, all that remains is a mere 1% of the original forest in 35 isolated locations. ...

The Cairngorms also provide a unique alpine semi-tundra moorland habitat, home to many rare plants, birds and animals. Speciality bird species on the platuex include breeding Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Snow Bunting, Golden Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Twite and Red Grouse, with Snowy Owl, Purple Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting seen on occasion. In the forests, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Scottish Crossbill, Parrot Crossbill, Crested Tit amongst many more speciality birds are found. For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see climate) for a region above the tree-line. ... In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and OMFG. The term tundra comes from Kildin Sami tÅ«Ì„ndra, the genitive of tundar, treeless plain. There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, Antarctic tundra, and alpine tundra. ... Heaths are anthropogenic habitats found primarily in northern and western Europe, where they have been created by thousands of years of human clearance of natural forest vegetation by grazing and burning on mainly infertile acidic soils. ... Binomial name Lagopus mutus (Montin, 1781) The Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) is a small (31-35 cm) bird in the grouse family. ... Binomial name Charadrius morinellus Linnaeus, 1758 The Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), or in Europe just Dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds. ... Binomial name Plectrophenax nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Snow Bunting, (Plectrophenax nivalis), is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a family now separated by most modern authors from the finches Fringillidae. ... Binomial name Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus, 1758 The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. ... Binomial name Turdus torquatus Linnaeus, 1758 The Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae. ... Binomial name Carduelis flavirostris (Linnaeus,, 1758) The Twite, Carduelis flavirostris, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. ... Binomial name Lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) is a medium-sized bird in the grouse family. ... Binomial name Bubo scandiacus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. ... Binomial name Calidris maritima (Brünnich, 1764) The Purple Sandpiper, Calidris maritima is a small shorebird. ... Binomial name Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae. ... This article is about the bird. ... Binomial name Tetrao tetrix (Linnaeus, 1758) The Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) is a large bird in the grouse family. ... Binomial name Loxia scotica Hartert,, 1904 The Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. ... Binomial name Loxia pytyopsittacus Borkhausen,, 1793 The Parrot Crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. ... Binomial name Parus cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 The Crested Tit, Parus cristatus, sometimes Lophophanes cristatus, is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. ...

Of particular fame is the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve at Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten. A famous pair of Ospreys are present in the summer months, and they often attract large crowds to see them. The forest is home to the endangered Capercaillie and endemic Scottish Crossbill. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is Europes largest wildlife conservation charity. ... Abernethy Forest is a remnant of the Caledonian Forest near Aviemore, Scotland, UK. It is an RSPB reserve, close to Loch Garten Osprey Centre, which is also owned by the RSPB. The forest is home to Scottish Crossbill, Red Squirrel, Wild Cat, Red Deer, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Osprey and... The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a nature reserve at Boat of Garten in the Abernethy Forest, in the Scottish region of Highland, and in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ... This article is about the bird. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or one of various ways of being not native (e. ... Binomial name Loxia scotica Hartert,, 1904 The Scottish Crossbill (Loxia scotica) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. ...

Red Deer, Roe Deer, Mountain Hare, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Wild Cat and Otter are all present, as well as the only wild herd of Reindeer in the British Isles. They now roam the high Cairngorm plateux, after being re-introduced in the 1950's by a Swedish herdsman. The herd is now stable at around 150 individuals, all born in the wild in Scotland. Binomial name Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies Numerous - see text. ... Binomial name Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a European and Asiatic deer of Britain and Europe and is found as far east as China and Siberia but is absent from Ireland, Portugal and Greece. ... {{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Mountain Hare | status = Conservation status: Lower risk (lc) | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Lagomorpha | familia = Leporidae | genus = Lepus | species = L. timidus | binomial = Lepus timidus | binomial_authority = Linnaeus, The Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and Italic... Binomial name Martes martes (Linnaeus, 1758) The Pine Marten (Martes martes) is an animal in the weasel family, native to Europe. ... Binomial name Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 The Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, is a common European tree squirrel. ... Binomial name Felis silvestris Schreber, 1775 The Wild Cat (Felis silvestris) is a small predator native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa. ... Genera Amblonyx Aonyx Enhydra Lontra Lutra Lutrogale Pteronura Otters are aquatic or marine carnivorous mammals, members of the large and diverse family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, polecats, badgers, and others. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758) For the musician, please see Caribou (musician). ... This article may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

Leisure

A skiing and winter sports industry is concentrated in the Cairngoms, with three of Scotland's five resorts situated here. They are the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre, Glenshee Ski Centre and The Lecht Ski Centre. Members of the US Air Force skiing (and snowboarding) at Keystone Resorts 14th Annual SnoFest An alpine skier Deep powder skiing Skiing is the activity of gliding over snow using skis (originally wooden planks, now usually made from fiberglass or related composites) strapped to the feet with ski bindings. ... A winter sport is a sport commonly played during winter, usually a sport played on snow or ice. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Glenshee or Gleann Shith (Gaelic for Glen of the Faries) is the largest and oldest commercial ski resort in Scotland. ...

A funicular railway opened here in late 2001, running from a base station at 637 metres up to the Ptarmigan Centre, situated at 1097 metres, 150 metres from the summit of Cairn Gorm. It was built amidst some controversy, with supporters of the scheme claiming that it would bring valuable tourist income into the area, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a supposedly protected area. Angels Flight, Los Angeles, California with gantlet track configuration Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with full length parallel tracks The Gütschbahn in Lucerne, Switzerland – from an 1893 guidebook A funicular, also called funicular railway, inclined railway, inclined plane, or, in the United Kingdom, a cliff railway, is a system of... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... A summit is: A point higher than all the ground immediately surrounding it; see topographical summit. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ...

The mountains are also very popular for hill-walking, winter sports, cycling, birdwatching, climbing, deer stalking and fly fishing. However, the area can be very hazardous at times, with dangerous and unpredictable weather conditions. Because of this, all safety precautions must be taken whilst out in the mountains. Hillwalking or fellwalking is the recreational practice of hiking in mountainous terrain. ... A winter sport is a sport commonly played during winter, usually a sport played on snow or ice. ... Cycling is a recreation, a sport, and a means of transport across land. ... Birding or birdwatching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of birds (the study proper is termed ornithology). ... Climbers on Valkyrie at the Roaches. ... Defined narrowly, a game stalker is a hunter who for sport, approaches close to his timid quarry before making a kill. ... Fly rod and reel with a wild brown trout from a chalk stream. ...

Settlements in the Cairngorms

• Aviemore
• Newtonmore
• Kinguisse
• Boat of Garten
• Nethy Bridge
• Ballater
• Braemar

Aviemore (Scottish Gaelic: An Aghaidh Mhòr) is a tourist resort in the Highlands of Scotland. ... Newtonmore is a village in the Highlands of Scotland with a population of about 1000. ... Boat of Garten is a small village in the Highlands of Scotland. ... Ballater is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, just east of the Cairngorm Mountains. ... Braemar (Scottish Gaelic, Baile a Chaisteil Bhràigh Mhàirr) is a village in the Aberdeenshire Highlands, Scotland, around 58 miles west of Aberdeen, the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee. ...

Visitor attractions

• Cairngorm Mountain
• Ben Macdui
• Cairn Gorm Ski Centre
• Loch Morlich
• Strathspey Steam Railway
• Loch Garten Osprey Centre
• Abernethy Forest RSPB
• Highland Native Wildlife Park
• Glenshee Ski Centre
• The Lecht Ski Centre
• The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre

Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Ben Macdhui (also spelled Ben Macdui, Ben MacDui and Beinn MacDuibh) is the second highest mountain of Great Britain. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Loch Morlich (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Mhùlaig) is a freshwater loch in the Strathspey region of Scotland. ... The Strathspey Railway operates a 10 mile (16 km) preserved railway from Aviemore to Broomhill via Boat of Garten, part of the former Highland Railway line which linked Aviemore with Forres. ... The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a nature reserve at Boat of Garten in the Abernethy Forest, in the Scottish region of Highland, and in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ... Abernethy Forest is a remnant of the Caledonian Forest near Aviemore, Scotland, UK. It is an RSPB reserve, close to Loch Garten Osprey Centre, which is also owned by the RSPB. The forest is home to Scottish Crossbill, Red Squirrel, Wild Cat, Red Deer, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Osprey and... Glenshee or Gleann Shith (Gaelic for Glen of the Faries) is the largest and oldest commercial ski resort in Scotland. ...

See also

• Cairn Gorm
• Cairngorms National Park
• Caledonian Forest
• RSPB
• National Parks of Scotland

Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... The Cairngorms National Park is a national park in North-eastern Scotland. ... The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of the Scottish Highlands, Scotland, UK. Today, however, all that remains is a mere 1% of the original forest in 35 isolated locations. ... The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is Europes largest wildlife conservation charity. ... There are currently two national parks of Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, created in 2002, and Cairngorms National Park, created in 2003. ...

External links

• Cairngorms National Park
• Cairngorm Mountain
• Ski Scotland
• Loch Morlich Watersports
• RSPB Abernethy Forest
• Strathspey Steam Railway
• Highland Native Wildife Park
• Ski Scotland - lastest Cairngorm Snow Condiditons
• Glenshee Ski Centre
• The Lecht Ski Centre
• Birdwatching Guide to the Scottish Highlands
• Fishing Guide to Scotland