Creag Meagaidh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Creag Meagaidh
Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh
Highest point
Elevation	1,130 m (3,710 ft)
Prominence	867 m (2,844 ft)  Ranked 18th in British Isles
Parent peak	Ben Nevis
Listing	Marilyn, Munro
Naming
English translation	Bogland crag
Language of name	Gaelic
Geography
Location	Glen Spean, Scotland
OS grid	NN418875
Topo map	OS Landranger 34, 42

Creag Meagaidh (which means Bogland crag in Gaelic) is a large mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. It stands on the northern side of Glen Spean. The mountain has a flat top and five ridges that spread out from it. It is most famous for the tall cliffs around a bowl-shaped valley called Coire Ardair. These cliffs are a popular place for ice and winter climbing.

The name Creag Meagaidh is also used for two nearby mountains. These are Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Càrn Liath. Together, these three peaks form the Creag Meagaidh range. You can climb all three mountains from a place called Aberarder on the A86 road. You would first follow the path up Coire Ardair. Then, you would head north to the top of Càrn Liath.

To climb Creag Meagaidh directly, you can go from the head of the corrie. This path leads to a narrow gap in the cliffs called The Window. This gap is a pass between Creag Meagaidh and Stob Poite Coire Ardair. You can also climb Creag Meagaidh from Moy to the southeast.

The Creag Meagaidh area is part of the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve (NNR). This reserve covers a huge area of 3,940 hectares. It stretches from the shores of Loch Laggan up to the high, flat top of Creag Meagaidh. The reserve was created in 1986. It is owned and looked after by NatureScot. Creag Meagaidh is also a special protected area. The number of grazing animals here is carefully managed. This has helped native trees like birch, alder, willow, rowan and oak to grow back. The reserve is also an important place for many birds to breed. One special bird found here is the dotterel.

Exploring Creag Meagaidh's Nature

Amazing Plants and Animals

Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
An information board at Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve
Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve Location in Highland
Location	Highland, Scotland
Area	39.5 km2 (15.3 sq mi)
Established	1986
Governing body	NatureScot
Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve

Creag Meagaidh is home to many important plant species. These include the woolly willow, wavy meadow grass, highland saxifrage, bog orchid, and Scots pine. More than 120 types of lichen have also been found here. The top of the mountain is covered in moss and stiff sedge. This is one of the largest areas of woolly fringemoss heath in the UK. The cliffs above Coire Ardair have not been grazed much. Because of this, they support rare plants like alpine foxtail and alpine lady-fern.

Over 150 kinds of small creatures (invertebrates) live on the mountain's flat top. This includes rare ones like the large wolf spider. In Scotland, this spider is only found on a few of the highest mountains. One type of fly, Spilogona trigonata, is found only at Creag Meagaidh in Britain. It usually lives in Scandinavia and North America.

NatureScot has recorded 137 different bird species in the Reserve. The dotterel is a very special bird found here. It is one of Britain's rarest birds. The upper part of the mountain (above 750 meters) is a Special Protection Area just for this bird. Snow bunting and golden plover also breed on the higher areas. Red grouse and greenshank are often seen on the lower slopes. The thicker woods lower down are home to birds like chaffinch, willow warbler, tree pipit, and wren.

Three types of deer live at Creag Meagaidh NNR. These are red deer, roe deer, and sika deer. The number of deer is managed to help the woodlands grow back. Mountain hares are common on the higher parts of the reserve. Pine marten and otter can sometimes be seen at lower heights. There has only been one sighting of the Scottish wildcat in recent years.

Protecting Creag Meagaidh's Nature

Creag Meagaidh has several special protections. These show how important its different habitats and features are. It is a National Nature Reserve (NNR). It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Plus, it is a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is a Category IV protected area. This means it is managed to protect its habitats and wildlife.

A Look at Creag Meagaidh's Past

The first records of Creag Meagaidh are from the 1600s and early 1700s. At that time, farmers lived in the area. They grew crops on the lower slopes. They also grazed their cattle on the higher ground in summer. After the Jacobite rising of 1745, the owner lost his land. It was then managed by the Crown. The Crown started to move the farmers out. They combined the small farms into one large sheep farm. By 1790, there were about 20,000 sheep in the area. In 1784, Creag Meagaidh was given back to the Macpherson family.

The first recorded climb of Creag Meagaidh was in 1786. It was made by Thomas Thornton. He wrote about the view from the top in his book, "Sporting Tour".

By the early 1900s, the land was used for sports. People came for deer stalking, fishing, and grouse shooting. Sheep farming and forestry also continued. The Laggan Dam was built in 1934. This was part of the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme. The dam reduced the amount of grazing land. This led to more deer at Creag Meagaidh. By the 1970s, sheep farming had mostly stopped. Deer stalking became the main activity on the land. In 1983, the land was sold to a company called Fountain Forestry. They planned to plant many Sitka spruce trees. People were against this plan. In 1985, the land was sold to the Nature Conservancy Council. This group later became NatureScot. They made the area a national nature reserve in 1986.

Images for kids

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  Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh

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  An information board at Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve