Creag nan Adhaircean

Tucked away in the Monadhliath mountains near Newtonmore, this rounded Tump offers a quiet escape from the busier Cairngorm peaks. The terrain is typical of the range: expansive heather moorland and peat hags that demand careful navigation. From the summit, you gain a clear, unobstructed perspective across the Spey Valley towards the high northern Cairngorms.

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Crag of the Little Horns', likely referring to the small, rocky outcrops that break through the heather on its upper slopes, though 'adhaircean' is also a traditional Highland name for the lapwing, or peewit, due to its distinctive head crest.
• •The most common approach is from Glen Banchor, following the track alongside the River Calder before striking north across pathless, often sodden ground that requires a keen eye for the best line.
• •The summit provides a grandstand view of the great western breach of the Cairngorms, with the massive bulk of Sgoran Dubh Mor and the plateau of Braeriach clearly visible across the Strathspey floor.
• •In a range notorious for its featureless plateaus, this hill distinguishes itself by being one of the few points where you can actually tell you have reached the top without checking your GPS every five minutes.