Cruach Dhubh an Ruidhe Fearna

Situated in the northern Grampians overlooking the upper River Findhorn, this heather-clad Hump offers a quiet, peat-heavy ascent. Its rounded profile is characteristic of the Monadhliath moorland, providing a solitary experience for those looking to escape the busier Cairngorm plateaus visible across the valley to the south-east.

• •The Gaelic name translates as the 'Black Hill of the Alder Shieling,' with Ruidhe Fearna suggesting the lower slopes were once used for seasonal grazing among alder trees.
• •It is often approached from the estate tracks near Coignafearn, a remote corner of the Monadhliath mountains known as a stronghold for golden eagles and mountain hares.
• •From the summit, the view south-east across the Strathdearn valley reveals the massive scale of the Cairngorm plateau, with the white-scarred northern corries of Cairn Gorm and Braeriach clearly visible.
• •In common with many Monadhliath summits, the high point can feel more like a general suggestion than a specific destination, usually consisting of a modest cairn lost in a sea of identical heather.