Beinn Eilde

Rising above the wild moors west of Newtonmore, this 674-metre hill offers a quieter alternative to the neighbouring Munros. Its broad, heathery slopes provide a steady ascent, rewarding walkers with a superb perspective across the upper Spey valley towards the prominent western ramparts of the Cairngorm plateaux.

• •The name is Gaelic, with Beinn meaning hill and Eilde being the genitive of eild, or hind; it identifies this as the 'Hill of the Hind', reflecting the area's long history as a red deer habitat.
• •It stands as a prominent sentinel above Glen Banchor and is often climbed alongside its higher neighbour, Geal Charn, by those looking to explore beyond the standard Munro-bagger's path.
• •From the top, you gain a clear, elevated view of the River Calder winding through the glen below, backed by the sprawling western front of the Cairngorm mountains across the Spey.
• •Reaching the summit often involves a masterclass in 'heather-bashing', a pursuit that quickly explains why the nearby tracks in the glen remain significantly more popular than the hill itself.