Scotland
Cairn Geldie [Cnapan Or]
621M
2039FT
About Cairn Geldie [Cnapan Or]
Rising from the remote peatlands of the southern Cairngorms, this heathery dome overlooks the desolate Geldie Burn. Usually bypassed by those heading for the distant Munros of An Sgarsoch or Galdar Mor, it offers a lonely, quiet vantage point across the vast, empty confluence of Glen Feshie and the Upper Dee.
Key Statistics
Rank
179th Highest in The Cairngorms
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
32.4
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are walking on the Gaick Psammite Formation, a tough rock formed from ancient layers of sand that were squeezed and hardened deep within the earth.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN995885
Latitude
56.9768°N
Longitude
3.6539°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Cnapan Or translates from Scottish Gaelic as the 'Little Lump of Gold,' while Geldie likely derives from 'gile,' meaning whiteness or brightness, in reference to the clarity of the nearby river water.
- •Located in one of the most isolated stretches of the Highlands, the hill is most frequently reached via the long, flat track from Linn of Dee, passing the desolate ruins of Geldie Lodge.
- •The summit provides an excellent, 'low-level' perspective of the massive southern faces of the high Cairngorm plateau, specifically the sprawling granite flanks of Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mòr.
- •Reaching the top requires a certain level of persistence with the terrain; the approach is a classic example of the Great Mounth peat hags, where the 'path' is often more of a suggestion than a reality.
![Cairn Geldie [Cnapan Or]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Top_of_Cairn_Geldie_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3023373.jpg)