Scotland
Beinn Udlamain
1010M
3314FT
About Beinn Udlamain
High above the Pass of Drumochter, this broad, rounded Munro is the highest peak in the immediate range. Its grassy, expansive plateau offers straightforward walking, often combined with its neighbour Sgùrr Mòr. From the summit, the views are exceptional, looking directly across Loch Ericht to the remote Ben Alder forest.
Key Statistics
Rank
1st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
555m
Nearest Town
Newtonmore
Geology
You are walking across hard, sandy rocks known as psammite. These layers often contain shiny mica, which adds a subtle glint to the path beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN579739
Latitude
56.8348°N
Longitude
4.3307°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Gaelic Beinn Udlamain, which translates as 'Mountain of the Unstable Place' or 'Wavering Mountain', possibly a reference to the way the high plateau feels exposed to the buffeting winds of the pass.
- •A long line of old iron fence posts runs across the summit plateau; these served as a historical boundary between Inverness-shire and Perthshire and remain a vital navigational aid for walkers in poor visibility.
- •Because the approach begins from the high point of the A9 road at Drumochter, walkers start at over 450 metres, making this one of the more accessible 1,000-metre peaks in the Highlands.
- •In winter, the broad, relatively gentle slopes of the mountain make it a popular destination for ski touring, offering long, rolling descents back towards the A9.
- •The summit plateau is so vast and level that, in a thick mist, the line of rusting iron fence posts becomes the most exciting landmark you will encounter for several miles.