Scotland
Beinn a' Chait
899M
2948FT
About Beinn a' Chait
Sitting on the western fringe of the Beinn a' Ghlo massif, this high, rounded shoulder offers a quieter alternative to the neighbouring Munros. The terrain is characteristic of the Forest of Atholl: vast, heather-clad slopes that reward the ascent with clear, dramatic perspectives over the deep trench of Glen Tilt.
Key Statistics
Rank
36th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
116.9m
Nearest Town
Perth and Kinross
Geology
You’re walking on ancient, hardened sandstone. This peak also features fine-grained granite and volcanic rocks that once squeezed into the earth as molten liquid.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN864748
Latitude
56.8507°N
Longitude
3.8643°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Gaelic as the 'Mountain of the Cat,' likely referring to the Scottish wildcat, which historically found refuge in the rocky, remote hinterlands of the Atholl estates.
- •While often bypassed by those completing the main Beinn a' Ghlo ridge, the summit provides an unmatched vantage point for looking directly across Glen Tilt to the sprawling, red-granite plateau of Beinn Dearg.
- •Standing at 898.5 metres, the hill is a frustratingly close miss for Munro status, falling short of the magic 3,000-foot mark by approximately 16 metres.
- •The slopes are a prime location for observing the local red deer population, which frequently congregates in the high corries between this peak and the neighbouring massif of Carn nan Gabhar.
- •It is the ideal destination for the walker who finds the main ridge paths a little too metropolitan; on these slopes, your most likely encounter is an indignant red grouse.