Cnap Coire na Spreidhe

About Cnap Coire na Spreidhe

Sitting prominently above the northern ski slopes of Cairn Gorm, this high Munro Top marks the crest of the ridge between Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste. While often bypassed for the main summit, it offers a stark, plateau-like atmosphere with expansive views across Strathspey toward the Monadhliath mountains.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Cnap Coire na Spreidhe', which translates as the 'Lump of the Corrie of the Cattle'. This suggests that the high, sheltered corries surrounding the peak were historically used for summer grazing, despite the altitude.
• •Looking northeast from the summit, the terrain drops away into the Ryvoan Pass, offering a perfectly framed view of the vivid green waters of An Lochan Uaine and the shapely profile of Meall a' Bhuachaille.
• •The summit area is part of the extensive Cairngorm plateau, a sub-arctic environment that supports rare flora and is one of the most reliable places in the UK to spot ptarmigan, which often nest among the granite boulders.
• •Positioned on the edge of the Cairn Gorm ski area, the peak is just a short distance from the top station of the funicular railway, creating a strange juxtaposition between the wilderness of the high plateau and the mechanical infrastructure of the resort.
• •Despite the linguistic promise of cattle in the name, the only grazers you are likely to encounter at this height today are members of the Cairngorm reindeer herd, who frequently roam these bouldery slopes.