Lochnagar

Lochnagar (/ˌlɒxnəˈɡɑr/) or Beinn Chìochan is a mountain in the Grampians of Scotland, located about five miles south of the River Dee near Balmoral.

Names

Technically, the English name is a misunderstanding, being named after Lochan na Gaire, the 'little loch of the noisy sound', a loch to be found in the mountain's northeast corrie. Today the lochan is popularly called Lochnagar too. The summit itself is usually referred to as Cac Càrn Beag, meaning "small cairn of faeces" in Scottish Gaelic.

Beinn Chìochan (mountain of breasts) is an alternative Gaelic name.^[2]

Features

Lochnagar corrie in winter

Scottish tourists on the summit in 1933

The mountain's principal feature is a north-facing corrie around which most of the subsidiary tops as well as the main peak sit. The mountain is a Munro and is popular with hillwalkers at all times of the year. The most common ascent route is from Glen Muick. Care should be taken on the summit in poor visibility: the plateau has few obvious features and has steep cliffs on its northern edge.

The peak also lends its name to the poem Lachin y Gair (also known as Dark Lochnagar) by Lord Byron, and the song based on it.

A malt-whisky distillery located near the Balmoral estate on the south side of the River Dee produces the Royal Lochnagar Single Malt whisky.

The mountain is a site for breeding Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) and this has led it to be designated as a Special Protection Area.

"Lochnagar" is the name of a crater in the Somme valley created by a massive mine explosion during the First World War.

Lochnagar is located on the Royal Estate of Balmoral, and the mountain itself has royal links. It is the setting for a children's story, The Old Man of Lochnagar, originally told by Prince Charles.

In the film Mrs. Brown, John Brown and Benjamin Disraeli hike up Lochnagar to discuss the need for Queen Victoria to return to active involvement with government.

See also

• Breast shaped hill

References

Settlements and places of interest in Marr, Aberdeenshire Primary settlements Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins Other settlements Backburn Bellabeg Birse Birsemore Bogniebrae Brathens Brideswell Cairnie Corgarff Crathie Dinnet Finzean Forgue Gartly Inverey Keig Kildrummy Kincardine O'Neil Kirkton of Tough Logie Coldstone Lumsden Monymusk Potarch Rhynie Ruthven Strachan Strathdon Tornaveen Towie Tullich Ythanwells Places of interest Alford Valley Railway Badenyon Balmoral Castle Blelack Braemar Castle Burn O'Vat Cairn O' Mounth Cairngorms National Park Castle Forbes Corgarff Castle Craigievar Castle Crathes Castle Crathie Kirk Forest of Birse Grampian Transport Museum Huntly Castle Kildrummy Castle Lochnagar Lost Royal Deeside Royal Deeside Railway Yonder Bognie Ythan Wells (Glenmailen) Roman Camp

Munros of Scotland: Braemar to Montrose Broad Cairn Cairn Bannoch Cairn of Claise Càrn a' Coire Boidheach Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr Càrn an Tuirc Creag Leacach Driesh Glas Maol Lochnagar Mayar Mount Keen Tolmount Tom Buidhe List of Munros

Most prominent hills of Britain Northern Highlands Foinaven Ben Hee Ben Hope Ben Loyal Ben Klibreck Ben More Assynt Canisp Cùl Mòr Ben More Coigach Beinn Dearg Ben Wyvis An Teallach Slioch Sgùrr Mòr (Fannichs) Fionn Bheinn Beinn Alligin Beinn Eighe Liathach Beinn Bhàn Sgorr Ruadh Western Highlands Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais Sgùrr na Lapaich Càrn Eige Beinn Fhada Sgùrr Fhuaran A' Chràlaig Sgùrr a' Mhaoraich Gleouraich Sgùrr nan Eugallt Ladhar Bheinn Sgùrr na Cìche Càrn Mòr Sròn a' Choire Ghairbh Sgùrr Thuilm Gaor Bheinn Rois-bheinn Sgùrr Ghiubhsachain Sgùrr Dhòmhnuill Garbh Bheinn Creach Bheinn Central and Eastern Highlands Creag Meagaidh Ben Nevis Stob Coire Easain Binnein Mòr Chno Dearg Ben Alder Sgor nam Fiannaidh Beinn a' Bheithir Beinn Sgulaird Bidean nam Bian Ben Macdui Beinn a' Ghlò Lochnagar Southern Highlands Meall a' Bhuiridh Ben Cruachan Schiehallion Beinn a' Chreachain Ben Lawers Ben Lui Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) Beinn Ìme Beinn an Lochain Beinn Mhòr (Cowal) Doune Hill Ben More (Crianlarich) Ben Lomond Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn) Ben Chonzie Islands An Cliseam Beinn Mhòr (South Uist) The Storr Sgùrr Alasdair Blà Bheinn Beinn na Caillich Sgùrr na Coinnich Askival Ben More (Mull) Dùn da Ghaoithe Beinn an Òir Goat Fell Snaefell Scottish Lowlands, England and Wales Merrick Broad Law Scafell Pike Helvellyn Skiddaw Cross Fell Snowdon Glyder Fawr Carnedd Llewelyn Aran Fawddwy Cadair Idris Pen y Fan Waun Fach

Coordinates: 56°57′36″N 3°14′41″W / 56.95993°N 3.24478°W / 56.95993; -3.24478