Hills of Britain and Ireland
OS Map of Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Height: 1152m / 3778ft • Prominence: 15m / 49ft • Summit : cairn on flat rock on large plateau • Trip reports (hill-bagging)
Me At The Summit
This is me, standing by the large summit cairn at the top of Cairn Gorm in the Scottish Highlands. In the distance far below is the blue water of Loch Morlich, and beyond that the highlands town of Aviemore. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit portrait cairn rock rocks topic 54189320682
Summit and Glen
One final shot of the summit cairn at the top of Cairn Gorm. Far below we can see the blue waters of Loch Morlich, while just beyond it, Aviemore can just be made out. But we've hung around enough, it's time to start the descent. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape cairn rocks loch lake rock topic 54191588727
High Mountains
One final look back from the summit of Cairn Gorm we have view of some very high mountains. Directly in front we can see the blue waters of Loch Etchachan, above which looms the very rocky peak of Derry Cairngorm, which stands at 1155 meters (3789 feet). To its right is the UK's 2nd highest peak, Ben MacDui, standing at 1309 meters (4295 feet), and then further beyond we have the UK's 4th highest Cairn Toul, standing at 1291 meters (4235 feet), and immediately to its right is Sgòr an Lochain Uaine (aka The Angels Peak) standing at 1258 meters (4127 feet). But the descent awaits and it's time to move. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape rocks rock topic rockpaper 54195219259
Not A Cairn In The World
A line of small cairns lead off the summit of Cairn Gorm with the landscape far below us as we start the descent off the mountain, picking our way across the rocks and boulders that cover the landscape at this altitude. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape cairn rocks rock topic rockpaper 54197379714
Restaurant In The Clouds
As we descend, we pass the Ptarmigan Restaurant, which is the highest in the UK, situated as it is on the upper slops the Cairn Gorm Mountain, among the ski runs of the area. The funicular railway to used to run from the base station but this has fallen into bad repair over recent times and is currently closed which is a shame as the restaurant wasn't open for a refreshing cuppa. So on we go and continue our descent from the mountains. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape rock building architecture restarurant topic 54199162031
Loch Morlich
As we descend further from the summit of the Cairn Gorm mountain, the slopes open up to give us a fantastic view of the blue water of Loch Morlich far below us. Beyond the loch, through the forests, the highland town of Aviemore can be made out, which we'll have to drive back through to get home. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape loch lake path rock topic 54201421383
OS Map
This is OS mapping. In some areas, OpenStreetMap shows more footpaths
Spatial NI has online OSNI mapping. Click "Basemap Gallery" (4 squares icon at the top).
Now would be a good time for a cup of tea.
GPX Editor
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Photos
Please tag your photos and upload them to the British and Irish Mountains group on Flickr
The other photos have been geo-tagged as on or around the summit. For less busy mountains, it can be a little hit and miss.
Me At The Summit
This is me, standing by the large summit cairn at the top of Cairn Gorm in the Scottish Highlands. In the distance far below is the blue water of Loch Morlich, and beyond that the highlands town of Aviemore. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit portrait cairn rock rocks topic 54189320682
Summit and Glen
One final shot of the summit cairn at the top of Cairn Gorm. Far below we can see the blue waters of Loch Morlich, while just beyond it, Aviemore can just be made out. But we've hung around enough, it's time to start the descent. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape cairn rocks loch lake rock topic 54191588727
High Mountains
One final look back from the summit of Cairn Gorm we have view of some very high mountains. Directly in front we can see the blue waters of Loch Etchachan, above which looms the very rocky peak of Derry Cairngorm, which stands at 1155 meters (3789 feet). To its right is the UK's 2nd highest peak, Ben MacDui, standing at 1309 meters (4295 feet), and then further beyond we have the UK's 4th highest Cairn Toul, standing at 1291 meters (4235 feet), and immediately to its right is Sgòr an Lochain Uaine (aka The Angels Peak) standing at 1258 meters (4127 feet). But the descent awaits and it's time to move. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape rocks rock topic rockpaper 54195219259
Not A Cairn In The World
A line of small cairns lead off the summit of Cairn Gorm with the landscape far below us as we start the descent off the mountain, picking our way across the rocks and boulders that cover the landscape at this altitude. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm summit landscape cairn rocks rock topic rockpaper 54197379714
Restaurant In The Clouds
As we descend, we pass the Ptarmigan Restaurant, which is the highest in the UK, situated as it is on the upper slops the Cairn Gorm Mountain, among the ski runs of the area. The funicular railway to used to run from the base station but this has fallen into bad repair over recent times and is currently closed which is a shame as the restaurant wasn't open for a refreshing cuppa. So on we go and continue our descent from the mountains. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape rock building architecture restarurant topic 54199162031
Loch Morlich
As we descend further from the summit of the Cairn Gorm mountain, the slopes open up to give us a fantastic view of the blue water of Loch Morlich far below us. Beyond the loch, through the forests, the highland town of Aviemore can be made out, which we'll have to drive back through to get home. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape loch lake path rock topic 54201421383
Ski Fence
The path we're following to descend from Cairn Gorm cuts through the ski runs of the Cairn Gorm mountain resort, marked by these fences. They do mark the way for us nicely though as the path weaves its way among them. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm fence rock topic rockpaper 54203202406
Funicular Tunnel
The funicular railway runs from the base station at the foot of the Cairn Gorm mountain, following the slopes until it disappears into this tunnel in the mountainside, to next appear at the Ptarmigan Restaurant above us, which is it terminates. Unfortunately due to high running costs and the elevated rails falling into bad repair, it is currently closed with no sign of when (if ever) it will open again. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape rock tracks train topic rockpaper 54205208086
Across The Mountains
Looking across the slopes of Cairn we can see the route we have taken. With the rising shoulder to the right of image, leading to the tops of the coire's (cliffs) which we then followed to reach Cairn Gorm itself looming above us. The ski runs and the Funicular railway cut across the landscape as Cairn Gorm is a popular mountain in the winter. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm landscape rock topic 54209766741
Fenced In
There are many ski runs flowing down the mountainside of Cairn Gorm, marked by this maze of fences, how anyone knows where they are going beats me, but I'm sure it is more obvious when you're on the run itself. Cairn Gorm, the mountain from which the Cairngorm mountain range gets its name, stands at 1245 meters (4085 feet) and is my 4th Munro of the season, my 27th in total. The hike (no bike this time) sees me covering a circuit of just over 7 miles and making an elevation gain of around 762 meters (2500 feet).
28-Jul-24 • steve_whitmarsh • flickr
aberdeenshire scotland scottishhighlands highlands hills mountain glen cairngorms cairngorm fence rock topic 54211019827
Videos
Some GoPro Quik video from our recent ascent of the 'Slab and Chimney Arete' variation and the original line 'Slab and Chimney' ...
A small selection of the Cnap Coire na Spreidhe's upper Central Ridge summer rock climbing and cragging variations. The routes ...
Some footage from Hookers Chimney on Pinnacle Ribs Cnap Coire na Spreidhe.
30th January 2024 - Good settled weather and mixed climbing conditions for climbing the winter hybrid variation of Slab and Flake ...
The GoPro footage is from the 8th February 2024 and at minus 9 it was bitterly cold on Cairngorm. Over the previous week there ...
Notes
- Data: Database of British and Irish Hills v18.2
- Maps: We use OS mapping for England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Sadly, Channel Islands, Northern (OSNI) and Southern Ireland (OSI) mapping isn't available online, so we use Openstreetmap.