Beinn Mheadhoin SW Top [Beinn Mheadhoin South Top]

Perched high in the Cairngorm wilderness, the SW Top of Beinn Mheadhoin is for the completionist who enjoys massive granite boulders and isolation. It’s the ‘middle mountain’s’ slightly shorter sibling, offering a fine view of Loch Etchachan if you can see through the inevitable mist.

• •Located in the remote heart of the Cairngorms, this peak is roughly 19 kilometres south east of Aviemore. Like its neighbor Beinn a' Chaorainn, it stands in a vast wilderness area that requires a long, committed approach through dramatic terrain.
• •The mountain is famous for its 'Barns', which are enormous granite tors formed by millions of years of differential weathering. These geological oddities look like they were dropped by a giant with a penchant for avant-garde landscaping.
• •The name Beinn Mheadhoin translates from Gaelic as the 'Middle Mountain', reflecting its central position between the high masses of Ben Macdui and Braeriach. It serves as an excellent vantage point for judging the progress of other hikers from a safe distance.
• •The top sits near Loch Etchachan, which is the highest body of water of its size in the UK. The loch frequently remains frozen well into the summer months, making it a popular spot for only the most confused or hardy wild swimmers.
• •Reaching the SW Top is like visiting the backup singer of a famous band. You're technically at the concert and the view is great, but everyone else is busy queuing to climb the giant granite 'Barn' on the main summit.