Ben Avon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Avon |
|
|---|---|
| Beinn Athfhinn | |
 |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,171 m (3,842 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 197 m (646 ft) |
| Parent peak | Beinn a' Bhùird |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Hill of the bright one |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
 Ben Avon
Location in Scotland
|
|
| OS grid | NJ131018 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 36 |
Ben Avon is a huge mountain in the Cairngorms area of Scotland. Its name in Scottish Gaelic is Beinn Athfhinn, which means "Hill of the bright one." The very top of Ben Avon is called Leabaidh an Dàimh Bhuidhe, meaning "bed of the yellow stag." This mountain is special because it's known as both a Munro and a Marilyn. A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) high. A Marilyn is a hill with a drop of at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) on all sides.
Ben Avon: A Giant of the Cairngorms
Ben Avon is a really big and complicated mountain. It spreads out over more than 30 square kilometers (about 11.5 square miles)! Imagine a mountain that covers an area bigger than many towns. The top part of the mountain is a wide, flat area called a plateau. This plateau is covered with cool granite rock formations called tors. One of these tors actually forms the highest point of the mountain.
From this wide, flat top, rocky paths called ridges go out in almost every direction. These ridges make it possible to reach Ben Avon from different places. You can come from Glen Avon to the north, or from Beinn a' Bhùird to the west. You can also approach it from Gleann an t-Slugain in the south.
To the west of the summit, there's a huge bowl-shaped valley called a corrie. This corrie is named Slochd Mòr and has steep, rocky cliffs. If you climb Ben Avon from the south or west, you'll get very close to the edge of this impressive corrie.
Climbing to the Top
The most common way to climb Ben Avon is by following a path in the deep valley that separates Ben Avon from its neighbor, Beinn a' Bhùird. You can also start your climb from Beinn a' Bhùird itself.
To truly say you've "bagged" Ben Avon, you need to climb the summit tor itself. Don't worry, it's not a difficult climb. It's an easy scramble, which means you might need to use your hands a little bit to help you climb over rocks, but it's not like rock climbing that needs special ropes or gear. It's a fun challenge to reach the very top!
