Scotland
Caisteal na Caillich
861M
2824FT
About Caisteal na Caillich
Rising as a rugged, rocky prow on the northwestern flank of Beinn Bhreac, this summit offers a sharper character than its parent's rounded plateau. It overlooks the deep trench of Glen Derry, providing an earned vantage point over ancient pines toward the high granite ridges of Derry Cairngorm.
Key Statistics
Rank
48th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
36.2m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are walking on light-colored granite. This rock formed deep underground as part of a massive pool of cooling magma called the Lochnagar Pluton.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO281874
Latitude
56.9722°N
Longitude
3.1843°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic in origin, translating as the 'Castle of the Old Woman.' This likely refers to the Cailleach—the divine hag of Gaelic mythology associated with the creation of the landscape and the winter months.
- •While its parent peak, Beinn Bhreac, is often noted for its broad and featureless peat hags, this rocky outcrop provides the mountain with its most distinctive architectural profile when viewed from the glens to the west.
- •Classified as a Tump, the summit offers a clear perspective across the glen to the massive bulk of the central Cairngorm plateau and the sprawling eastern cliffs of Beinn a' Bhuird.
- •Because the main Munro path typically bypasses this spur, it remains a quiet spot where you are far more likely to encounter a resident ptarmigan than a fellow hillwalker.