Grampian Mountains (Scotland)
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The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland.
The Grampians extend southwest to northeast between the Highland Boundary Fault and Glen Mor (the Great Glen), occupying almost half of the land-area of Scotland. This includes the Cairngorms and the Lochaber hills. The range includes Ben Nevis (the highest point in the British Isles at 1,344 metres above sea level) and Ben Macdui (the second highest at 1,309 metres).
The mountains are composed of granite, gneiss, marble, schists and quartzite. The other major mountain ranges in Scotland are the Northwest Highlands and the Southern Uplands.
Several rivers rise in the Grampians - the Tay, the Spey, the Don, the Dee and the Esk. The area is minimally populated other than in a few areas such as Aviemore, a winter holiday and snow-sporting centre.
[edit] History and name
The name Grampians is believed have first been applied to the mountain range in 1520 by the historian Hector Boece, a transliteration of the Roman Mons Graupius, recorded by Tacitus as the site of the defeat of the native Caledonians by general Gnaeus Julius Agricola (his father-in-law) circa 83 AD.
Prior to this the area was known as the Mounths, a name still held by a number of geographical features. Up until the 19th century, they were generally considered to be more than one range. This view is still held by many today, and they have no single name in the Scottish Gaelic language or the Doric dialect of the Scots language.
A noteworthy historic route connecting Aberdeen to southern coastal points was called the Causey Mounth, an elevated stonework stucture in many location because of the crossing of numerous bogs, most notably the Portlethen Moss. This route played numerous roles in the Coventanters history and Bishops' Wars since it formed the only passable and strategic connection from Dunnottar Castle to Muchalls Castle to the Bridge of Dee.
