Beinn a' Bheithir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beinn a' Bheithir |
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Beinn a' Bheithir seen from the slopes of Mam na Gualainn, across Loch Leven. Sgorr Dhearg is the left-hand peak.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,024 m (3,360 ft) |
| Prominence | 729 m (2,392 ft) |
| Parent peak | Bidean nam Bian |
| Listing | Marilyn, Munro |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mountain of the Thunderbolt |
| Language of name | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | English approximation: BAYN-ə-VEH-ər |
| Geography | |
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| Parent range | Grampian Mountains |
| OS grid | NN056558 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 41 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
| Listed summits of Beinn a' Bheithir | ||||
| Name | Grid ref | Height | Status | |
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| Sgorr Dhearg | NN056886 | 1,024 m (3,360 ft) | Marilyn, Munro | |
| Sgorr Dhonuill | NN040555 | 1,001 m (3,284 ft) | Marilyn, Munro | |
Beinn a' Bheithir is a large mountain in the Scottish Highlands. It sits south of Ballachulish, near Loch Leven. Its name means 'Mountain of the Thunderbolt' in Scottish Gaelic.
This mountain has two main peaks that are both called Munros. A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 metres) high. The taller peak is Sgorr Dhearg, which is 1,024 metres (3,360 feet) high. The other peak is Sgorr Dhonuill, standing at 1,001 metres (3,284 feet). These two peaks are about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) apart.
The mountain has a special horseshoe shape. Its ridges point north, surrounding a bowl-shaped valley called Gleann a' Chaolais. The lower parts of the mountain are covered in conifer trees. To the south, Beinn a' Bheithir forms a steep ridge. This ridge creates the northern side of Glen Duror, which is also forested.
Climbing Beinn a' Bheithir
There are several ways to climb Beinn a' Bheithir. One of the easiest routes goes through the forest in Gleann a' Chaolais. This path leads to a mountain pass, called a 'bealach', which is 757 metres (2,484 feet) high. This pass is located between the two main peaks.
From this pass, you can climb both Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill. After reaching the tops, hikers can go back down the same way they came up. Other paths include climbing the ridges on the north side of Sgorr Dhearg. You can also start a steep climb from Glen Duror.
The Dragon's Mountain Tale
Long ago, Beinn a' Bheithir was known by a different name, Beinn Ghuilbin. But a famous folk tale changed its name forever. This story tells of a fearsome dragon that lived in Corrie Liath. This was a large hollow on the mountain, right above where Ballachulish Pier is now.
The First Dragon
The dragon was a terror to everyone living nearby. She would watch the path from her corrie. If an unlucky traveler tried to pass, she would leap down. Then, she would tear them to pieces. No one dared to attack her. No one knew how to defeat her.
Then, a man named Charles, a ship's skipper, arrived. He anchored his ship far from the shore. He built a bridge from his ship to the land using empty barrels. These barrels were tied together with ropes. He also added sharp iron spikes to the barrels.
When the bridge was ready, Charles lit a big fire on his ship. He placed pieces of meat on the burning embers. Soon, the smell of the burning meat reached the dragon's corrie. The dragon quickly came down to the shore. She tried to cross the barrel bridge to reach the ship. But the sharp spikes hurt her badly. She was almost dead by the time she reached the end of the bridge.
Meanwhile, Charles moved his ship away from the bridge. This left a wide gap between the last barrel and the ship. The dragon was too weak to jump across. She could not go back the way she came. So, she died from her wounds at the end of the bridge. The people living near the mountain finally felt safe.
The Dragon's Whelp
But they did not know about a new danger. The old dragon had left a baby dragon, called a whelp, in Corrie Liath. Over time, this whelp grew into a full-sized dragon. This new dragon had its own babies hidden in a corn stack at the foot of the mountain.
A farmer found the young dragons in his stack. He immediately set fire to it. He hoped to destroy the dangerous creatures inside. The young dragons shrieked loudly. The wind carried their cries up the mountain. As soon as their mother heard them, she rushed down to help. But she was too late. Despite all her efforts, her babies died in the fire.
When she saw this, she lay down on a flat rock near the shore. She kept hitting the rock with her tail until she died. This rock is still known as the Dragon's Rock today. Beinn Bheithir House now stands on this very spot.
