Scotland
Gairbeinn
896M
2938FT
About Gairbeinn
Rising above the historic Corrieyairack Pass, this bulky Corbett is defined by its rugged, heathery slopes and proximity to the Glendoe Reservoir. While the terrain can be heavy going underfoot, the summit offers an expansive perspective of the Monadhliath range and a clear look down the Great Glen towards Fort Augustus.
Key Statistics
Rank
32nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
211m
Nearest Town
Fort Augustus
Geology
You are walking on hardened sandstones and compressed mudstones. Look for embedded pebbles and shiny mineral flakes within these rugged, layered rocks.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN460985
Latitude
57.0518°N
Longitude
4.5405°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Gairbeinn, meaning 'Rough Hill,' a reference to the broken, stony ground that distinguishes it from the smoother, grassier slopes found elsewhere in the Monadhliath range.
- •The hill's eastern flanks are part of the Glendoe Hydro Scheme; the project involved carving a five-mile tunnel through the mountain to carry water from the hilltop reservoir down to a turbine hall located deep underground near Loch Ness.
- •Most ascents utilize the high-level start provided by the Corrieyairack Pass, the highest point on General Wade's 18th-century military road, which reaches over 750 metres above sea level.
- •From the summit cairn, there is an excellent vantage point looking directly across the deep, steep-sided valley of the River Tarff toward the neighbouring Munro, Geal Charn.
- •Despite falling just 19 metres short of Munro status, the hill's notorious peat hags ensure that a walker's boots will be just as saturated as if it had made the 3,000-foot list.