Creag Meagaidh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Creag Meagaidh
Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh
Elevation	1128 m (3701 ft)
Location	Glen Spean, Scotland
Prominence	867 m
Topo map	OS Landranger 34, 42
OS grid reference	NN418875
Listing	Marilyn, Munro
Translation	Bogland crag (Gaelic)
Pronunciation	[krɛɪg mɛgɪ]

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 cliffs surrounding the corrie of Coire Ardair on the north-eastern face. These crags are a renowned venue for 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.