Scotland
Bruthach na Craoibhe [Bruthaich na Craoibhe]
823M
2699FT
About Bruthach na Craoibhe [Bruthaich na Craoibhe]
Rising above the Spey Valley near Newtonmore, this high shoulder in the Monadhliath range offers a quiet alternative to the busier neighbouring Munros. The terrain is typical of these hills—expansive heather moorland and peat hags that reward those seeking solitude and vast, open horizons looking east toward the Cairngorm plateau.
Key Statistics
Rank
32nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
30.3m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are trekking over the Gaick Psammite Formation. This durable rock began as layers of sand that were compressed and transformed into the solid foundation you see today.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN712820
Latitude
56.9114°N
Longitude
4.1170°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic, with Bruthach na Craoibhe translating to "the slope of the tree." This suggests that despite its current barren, windswept state, the area may have once hosted a notable landmark tree or ancient high-altitude woodland.
- •It forms part of the sprawling plateau north of Glen Banchor and is frequently passed by hillwalkers making the long approach to the Munros of Càrn Sgulain and A' Chailleach.
- •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for looking across Strathspey to the Cairngorms, offering a clear view of the Great Peak of Braeriach and the deep cleft of the Lairig Ghru.
- •Navigating the slopes here requires a certain patience for the "Monadhliath shuffle," a specific gait developed to negotiate the endless succession of black peat hags and hidden bogs that define the range.
![Bruthach na Craoibhe [Bruthaich na Craoibhe]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Looking_down_on_Loch_an_D%C3%B9in_from_Bruthach_na_Craoibhe_-_geograph.org.uk_-_521838.jpg)