Beinn Bhreac, Glen Derry

Beinn Bhreac
Aberdeenshire
Beinn Bhreac from Glen Quoich
Range:	Cairngorms
Summit:	3,054 feet NO05889709 57°3’19"N, 3°33’6"W

Beinn Bhreac is a twin-peaked mountain rising up to 3,054 feet above Glen Derry in the Cairngorm Mountains, about seven miles north-west of Braemar.

The mountain's name is Gaelic and means "Speckled Hill" and it is one of several mountains of that name; some 13 mountains named Beinn Bhreac may be counted and there is even another of that name in the Cairngorms (Beinn Bhreac, Blair Atholl).

Beinn Bhreac is a remote mountain located at the southern end of a featureless, boggy moorland plateau called the Moine Bhealaidh (Yellow Moss in Gaelic). The eastern peak is 13 feet higher than the western peak. It is commonly approached from the Linn of Dee to the south and is often combined with the neighbouring Munro Beinn a' Chaorainn. From its summit there are extensive views to the surrounding giants of the Cairngorm Mountains including Ben Macdhui, Great Britain's second-highest mountain.

Geography

The twin tops of Beinn Bhreac

At 3,054 feet, Beinn Bhreac is a Munro and it is ranked as the 249th highest mountain in Scotland. The mountain has two peaks, the eastern one of which is 13 feet higher than the western peak and therefore the summit. The mountain is bounded by Dubh Ghleann to the East and Glen Derry to the West. Both of these sides are steep and rocky in places. Moderately inclined slopes on its south-western side lead down towards Derry Lodge. The boggy moorland plateau called the Moine Bhealaidh extends to the north-west from Beinn Bhreac and links it with the neighbouring peak of Beinn a' Chaorainn. The view from the summit gives a fine panorama and takes in all the Cairngorm giants including Ben Macdhui to the west and Beinn a' Bhuird to the east.

Ascent

A popular route of ascent for Beinn Bhreac is from the Linn of Dee National Trust for Scotland car park (NO065901), 5 miles west of Braemar. The route follows the estate road along Glen Lui for 3 miles to Derry Lodge: bicycles can be used on this stretch of the route and secured in the woodland around Derry Lodge for collection on the return journey. The route then goes north up Glen Derry for a little over a mile before ascending the south-western flanks of Beinn Bhreac. From the col between Meall an Lundain and Beinn Bhreac it is a steep climb to the summit.

An approach from the Aviemore side of the Cairngorms is feasible, starting at the Cairn Gorm ski centre, but this involves crossing or bypassing Cairn Gorm, Loch Avon, Beinn Mheadhoin and Beinn a' Chaorainn before reaching the mountain and is a long, hard walk.

Beinn Bhreac is a remote mountain and is therefore often climbed in combination with its neighbouring Munro Beinn a' Chaorainn which is approximately 2½ miles to the north across the Moine Bhealaidh plateau.

References

• The Munros, Donald Bennet (Editor) ISBN 0-0907521-13-4