Scotland
Aonach Odhar
643M
2111FT
About Aonach Odhar
Rising above the Drumochter Pass south of Aviemore, this rounded Grampian summit offers a quieter alternative to the neighbouring Munros. Its broad, heathery slopes provide a straightforward ascent, rewarding walkers with a unique perspective across the A9 to the Sow of Atholl and the sprawling wilderness of the Gaick Forest.
Key Statistics
Rank
219th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
35.6m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking over tough, banded rocks formed from ancient sand and mud. Intense heat and pressure transformed these layers into the rugged terrain beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH708229
Latitude
57.2784°N
Longitude
4.1446°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Scottish Gaelic as the 'dun-coloured ridge' or 'pale moor,' a reference to the muted brownish tones of the heather and grasses that dominate this part of the eastern Grampians.
- •While often overlooked by those chasing higher peaks, the summit provides an excellent vantage point for surveying the Gaick Forest to the east, a remote area of high plateau and steep-sided glens.
- •From the top, you can clearly trace the path of the Pass of Drumochter, looking directly across the glen to the distinctive profiles of the Sow of Atholl and Meall na Leitreach.
- •In a region where hillwalkers are usually obsessed with ticking off 3,000-foot peaks, standing here provides the rare pleasure of a quiet summit while watching the distant, busy queues forming on the Munros across the glen.