Scotland
Buachaille Breige West Top
719M
2359FT
About Buachaille Breige West Top
Situated in the heart of the Mounth, this rounded Grampian summit offers a quieter alternative to the nearby Glas Maol. The terrain is typical of the high Braemar moorlands, featuring heathery slopes and peat hags. From the top, you gain a clear perspective of the A93 winding through the Glen Shee pass below.
Key Statistics
Rank
141st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
35m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are walking across a base of tough, quartz-rich rock and layers of hardened sandstone that form these rugged slopes.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO017859
Latitude
56.9539°N
Longitude
3.6178°W
Did You Know?
- •The name comes from the Gaelic Buachaille Brèige, meaning 'False Shepherd.' This usually refers to a prominent summit cairn that, when viewed from a distance or through mist, resembles a person standing on the horizon.
- •It is often visited as a short detour from the popular paths leading towards the higher Munros of Glas Maol and Creag Leacach, providing a vantage point over the upper reaches of the Shee Water.
- •Looking east from the 719m summit, the massive plateau of Glas Maol dominates the skyline, while to the south, the stony ridge of Creag Leacach stands out against the softer moorland.
- •The hill earns its 'False Shepherd' title honestly; in poor visibility, the rounded profile and deceptive scale of the summit ridge can easily lead a navigator to believe they are much higher on the Mounth than they truly are.