Càrn Aosda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Càrn Aosda |
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The scarred southern side of Càrn Aosda seen from The Cairnwell two km to the south.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 917 m (3,009 ft) |
| Prominence | 122 m (400 ft) |
| Listing | Munro |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Aged Hill, Hill of the Inn |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
| Location | Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampians |
| OS grid | NO134791 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 43, OS Explorer 387 |
Càrn Aosda is a mountain in Scotland. It is located about 12.5 kilometres (7.8 miles) south of the town of Braemar. This mountain is in the area of Aberdeenshire. You can find it close to the top of the Cairnwell Pass on the A93 road. It sits right in the middle of the Glenshee Ski Centre.
Discovering Càrn Aosda
Càrn Aosda stands 917 metres (about 3,008 feet) tall. It is one of Scotland's special mountains called a Munro. There are 282 Munros in Scotland. Càrn Aosda used to be known as the lowest Munro. But new, more accurate maps show it is now the 279th tallest Munro.
Càrn Aosda is thought to be one of the easiest Munros to climb. This is because you start climbing from a high point. The Glenshee Ski Centre car park is already over 640 metres high. The paths to the top are also easy. They are mostly rough tracks used by vehicles. A fit person can reach the top from the car park in about 30 minutes. You only need to climb about 275 metres from the car park.
This mountain is also known for having a lot of ski equipment on its slopes. You will see snow fences, ski lift poles, and small huts. There are also vehicle tracks all the way to the top. These are all part of the Glenshee Ski Centre.
There are four ski runs on Càrn Aosda.
- One run is for beginners.
- Two runs are for intermediate skiers. These go south from the top into a place called Butchart’s Corrie.
- One run is ranked as difficult. This one is on the steeper eastern side of the mountain.
There are also three ski lifts on the southern slopes. One of these lifts goes almost to the very top of the mountain.
What's in a Name?
The name Càrn Aosda comes from the Scottish Gaelic language. Most guide books say it means "Aged Hill" or "Aged Cairn." This is because the word aosda means aged or ancient.
However, some people think it might mean "Hill of the Inn." This idea comes from the word òsda. Long ago, there was an inn at the bottom of the mountain. It was near the Sean Spittal bridge. This is where the Cairnwell Burn flows under the main Cairnwell pass road. It is possible this inn gave the mountain its name.
Mountain Features
Càrn Aosda has a long ridge that stretches about four kilometres (2.5 miles) to the north. This ridge goes down to a small village called Baddoch. Another shorter ridge goes to the northeast. These two ridges form a valley called the Dubh-Choire.
The southern slopes of Càrn Aosda go down into Butchart’s Corrie. This valley is drained by the streams that form the Cairnwell Burn. It's interesting that this valley is not named on official maps. But it is very well known by skiers. Two of the ski lifts there are even named after it.
The gentle slopes to the southwest of the summit lead to a low point (called a col) at 795 metres. From here, you can easily climb the nearby Munros. These are The Cairnwell and Càrn a' Gheòidh. About 200 metres (650 feet) west of this low point is Loch Vrotachan. This lake is owned by the Ballater Angling club. It offers good trout fishing at a height of 750 metres (2,460 feet).
The very top of Càrn Aosda is made of small, light-coloured quartzite rocks. This gives the mountain a unique look. The summit actually has two bumps. The western bump is 903 metres (2,962 feet) high. The true highest point is 400 metres (1,300 feet) to the east. It is marked by a small pile of quartzite boulders.
All the water from Càrn Aosda flows east. It goes through Glen Clunie and into the River Dee. The River Dee then reaches the east coast of Scotland at Aberdeen.
Climbing and Views
People often climb Càrn Aosda along with one or both of its neighbouring Munros. These are The Cairnwell and Càrn a' Gheòidh. This walk lets you climb three Munros with less effort. You start at the ski centre car park. You only need to climb about 580 metres (1,900 feet) in total to reach the tops of all three mountains. This can be done in about three hours.
If you prefer a climb that avoids the ski area, you can start on the A93 road. Look for the start of the track to Baddoch (grid reference NO138831). From there, you can climb the long north ridge to the summit.
From the top of Càrn Aosda, you can see the ski area to the south. But in other directions, you get amazing views. You can see the mountains of the Mounth and the Cairngorms.
