BOOK HIGHLANDS HOTELS

Ben Macdhui, Highlands

Ben Macdhui
Ben Macdhui is a mountain situated in the Highland region of Scotland. The Scottish Gaelic name for the mountain is Beinn Mac Duibh. The name Ben Macdhui derives from the name of the Donnchad family who acquired the territory after the defeat of Domnall mac Uilliam in 1187 by the Earl of Fife , Donnchad II. The mountain lies on the boundary between Aberdeenshire and Moray and is situated on the southern edge of the Cairn Gorm plateau. At 1,309 m (4,295 ft) above sea level, Ben Macdhui is the highest peak in the Cairngorms range and this makes it the second highest mountain in the United Kingdom after Ben Nevis . Before accurate measurements were available it was once thought that Ben Macdhui was the higher of the two peaks. When the Lochaber peak at Ben Nevis was established as being officially higher, some locals planned to build a cairn at Ben Macdhui to bring it up beyond the level of Ben Nevis. However, the cairn was never constructed. The summit of the mountain features a direction indicator erected in 1925 by the Cairngorm Club of Aberdeen . Established in memory of a past president, Mr. Alexander Copland it shows the direction of important hills that are seen from the summit when the weather permits.

More British Natural features?

Other Highlands Naturals

Ben Nevis
Cairngorms
River Spey
Lake Morar
Loch Maree
Loch Ness
Loch Lomond
Moray Firth
Great Glen
Falls of Glomach
Lochaber Mountains
Cape Wrath
Cairn Toul
Aonach Mòr

Brit Quote:
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him - J R R Tolkien
More Quotes

On this day:
Battle of Berwick - 1296, Fire Claims 19 Glasgow Firefighters - 1960
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages