Beinn Bhreac

Sitting on the south-eastern fringe of the high Cairngorm plateau, this sprawling Corbett is famous for its peat hags and a summit that narrowly misses Munro status. The approach through the ancient pines of Glen Derry provides a scenic lead-in to a hill prized for its expansive views across to the massive bulk of Beinn a' Bhuird.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Beinn Bhreac', meaning 'Speckled Hill'. This refers to the mottled appearance of the summit plateau, where grey granite boulders and weathered scree are scattered amongst the dark heather and high-altitude grasses.
• •At 912.44 metres (2,994ft), it is one of Scotland's most notable 'near-miss' Munros. Falling just six feet short of the 3,000ft mark, it is classified as a Corbett and typically sees far fewer boots than the neighboring high peaks.
• •The walk-in from the Linn of Dee passes through the Derry Woods, a significant area of regenerating Caledonian Scots Pine forest that provides a sheltered, atmospheric start before the climb onto the exposed moorland.
• •The summit plateau offers a peerless view across the deep trench of the Lairig an Laoigh towards the dramatic, ice-scoured eastern corries of Beinn a' Bhuird and the vast plateau of Ben Macdui.
• •It is a hill that rewards optimism but demands gaiters; the southern approach features a notorious 'moat' of peat hags that can turn a straightforward walk into a tactical exercise in bog-hopping.