Creag an Fhithich

Rising above the River Spey near Boat of Garten, this modest summit offers a quiet vantage point over the Abernethy Forest. Its heather-clad slopes and pine-fringed ridges provide a gentle alternative to the higher Cairngorm plateaus, rewarding walkers with clear views across to the massive, granite peaks of the northern Cairngorms.

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Crag of the Raven.' It refers to the rocky outcrops on the hill's flanks which historically provided ideal, inaccessible nesting sites for these birds, which are still frequently seen circling the thermal currents here.
• •From the summit, the view south is dominated by the sprawling northern corries of the Cairngorm range, while to the west, the River Spey can be seen snaking its way through the strath toward Aviemore.
• •The hill is situated on the fringes of the RSPB Abernethy Reserve; while visitors flock to nearby Loch Garten for the ospreys, these quieter slopes offer a better chance of spotting red squirrels or the elusive capercaillie in the ancient Scots pine stands.
• •Calling a 405-metre hill a 'Hump' may sound like a slight, but in the world of British hill-listing, it is a formal badge of honour denoting a respectable hundred metres of vertical climb on all sides.