Scotland
Beinn Achaladair
1039M
3407FT
About Beinn Achaladair
Rising above the head of Glen Orchy, this Munro is defined by its dramatic northwestern escarpment. The ascent from Achallader Farm reveals a vast summit plateau with an airy feel, offering one of the finest perspectives across the desolate, water-streaked expanse of Rannoch Moor and the distant peaks of Glencoe.
Key Statistics
Rank
16th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
226m
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are hiking across ancient layers of mudstone and sandstone transformed by intense heat. These sturdy rocks often contain tough quartzite and stones flecked with tiny garnets.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN344432
Latitude
56.5519°N
Longitude
4.6945°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Scottish Gaelic as the 'Mountain of the Mower's Field.' This refers to the fertile haugh land at Achallader near the base of the hill, which historically provided valuable hay in an otherwise rugged landscape.
- •Most walkers pair this summit with its higher neighbour, Beinn a' Chreachain, to complete a classic high-level horseshoe. The route traverses the rim of Coire an Lochain, a deep bowl containing a high-altitude lochan that often remains frozen well into the spring.
- •Near the start of the standard ascent route lie the ruins of Achallader Castle. Once a MacFletcher stronghold, it served as the site for crucial negotiations between government officials and Jacobite clan chiefs in 1691, shortly before the Glencoe Massacre.
- •From the summit cairn, positioned right on the edge of the western crags, there is a clear view of the 'Horseshoe Curve' on the West Highland Railway line, where trains loop around the contours of the neighbouring Beinn Dorain.
- •Despite the name suggesting a tidy field, the lower slopes are notorious for a section of bog so persistent that many walkers finish their 'mountain' day with more mud on their knees than on their boots.