Bidean nam Bian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bidean nam Bian
Bidean nam Bian seen from Stob Coire Sgreamhach
Highest point
Elevation	1,150 m (3,770 ft)
Prominence	845 m (2,772 ft) Ranked 22nd in British Isles
Parent peak	Ben Nevis
Listing	Munro, Marilyn, County top (Argyll)
Naming
English translation	Fence of the hides or Peak of the Mountains
Language of name	Gaelic
Pronunciation	English approximation: bit-YAN-nəm-BEE-ahn
Geography
Location	Glen Coe, Scotland
Parent range	Grampian Mountains
OS grid	NN143542
Topo map	OS Landranger 41

Bidean nam Bian is a very tall and impressive mountain in Scotland. It's located south of Glen Coe in the Highland area. This mountain is the highest point in what used to be the county of Argyll.

Bidean nam Bian is a complex mountain with many different ridges and smaller peaks. One of these smaller peaks, called Stob Coire Sgreamhach, is so big it's considered a separate Munro. A Munro is a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 metres) high.

One of the most famous parts of Bidean nam Bian are the "Three Sisters of Glen Coe." These are three steep ridges that stretch north into the Glen. Two of these sisters, Gearr Aonach (which means Short Ridge) and Aonach Dubh (meaning Black Ridge), meet at a peak called Stob Coire nan Lochan. This peak is 1,115 metres (3,658 feet) tall and is about 1 kilometre northeast of Bidean nam Bian's main summit. The third sister, Beinn Fhada (meaning Long Hill), connects to the Bidean nam Bian mountain range at the top of Stob Coire Sgreamhach.

Beinn Fhada is separated from Gearr Aonach by a valley known as Coire Gabhail. This name can mean Glen of Capture. However, the valley is more commonly known as the Hidden or Lost Valley. It earned this name because it has a wide, flat area that is completely hidden from Glen Coe. This happened because a landslide blocked the entrance, allowing a small loch (lake) to form. Long ago, the Clan Macdonald used this secret valley to hide their farm animals from raiders. They also used it to hide cattle they had taken from others! The path leading up from Glen Coe is steep and rocky. It's a popular short walk, about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long, but it does involve crossing a river and some tricky rocky parts.

Climbing the Mountain

The Three Sisters, seen from Glen Coe: Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach, and Aonach Dubh.

Coire Gabhail, the Lost Valley or Hidden Glen, leads up to the Bidean ridge. The peak of Stob Coire Sgreamhach is left of centre.

View from Glen Coe car park, looking up Coire nan Lochan to Stob Coire nan Lochan, with Aonach Dubh to the right.

There are several exciting ways to climb Bidean nam Bian. One popular route starts from Coire Gabhail, the Hidden Valley. From there, you follow a zig-zag path that goes up the side of Gearr Aonach. This path leads to cliffs at the top of a corrie (a bowl-shaped hollow). You then cross a patch of loose rocks, called scree, to reach a mountain pass or bealach.

Once you are on the main ridge, you have a choice. You can turn left to climb Stob Coire Sgreamhach, which is only about half a kilometre away. Or, you can turn right and follow the edge of the cliffs towards the very top of Bidean nam Bian.

Other ways to reach the summit include climbing Stob Coire nan Lochan first. From there, you can use the ridge that connects it to the main summit. Another option is to go up through the Allt Coire nam Beitheach. This involves following either branch of this small burn to reach the main ridge. You will arrive on either side of the smaller peak of Stob Coire nam Beith. This peak is about a kilometre west of the main summit.

All these routes begin from Glen Coe and pass through the corries located between the Three Sisters. This means you can combine them to explore different parts of the mountain. Because Bidean nam Bian is so easy to reach from the north, the routes on its southern side are not used as often.

See also

In Spanish: Bidean nam Bian para niños