Derry Cairngorm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Derry Cairngorm |
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| Càrn Gorm an Doire | |
Derry Cairngorm seen from Càrn a' Mhàim, 3.5 km to the SW. The Sròn Riach ridge descending from Ben Macdui is in the foreground
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,155 m (3,789 ft) |
| Prominence | 141 m |
| Parent peak | Ben Macdui |
| Listing | Munro |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Blue Cairn of Derry |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cairngorms, Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampians |
| OS grid | NJ044013 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 36, OS Explorers 403 |
Derry Cairngorm is a tall mountain in Scotland. It is part of the amazing Cairngorms mountain range. You can find it about 14 kilometers (about 9 miles) north-west of Braemar in Aberdeenshire. Its name comes from Scottish Gaelic, Càrn Gorm an Doire, which means "Blue cairn of Derry". It's a popular spot for hikers and offers incredible views!
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Discovering Derry Cairngorm
Derry Cairngorm is one of the main mountains in the central Cairngorms. It stands proudly with its neighbours, Ben Macdui and Càrn a' Mhàim. Ben Macdui is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to the north-west. A lower ridge, called a col, connects these two mountains. This col is about 1014 meters (3,327 feet) high.
The mountain was once called An Carn Gorm. But people changed its name to Carn Gorm an Doire. This was to avoid mixing it up with another mountain nearby, Cairn Gorm. The English name, Derry Cairngorm, comes from the Gaelic. "Derry" comes from a word meaning "wooded." This refers to the beautiful Scots pine trees. These trees grow on the mountain's southern side, near Derry Lodge. They are part of the ancient Caledonian Forest.
From some places, like Inverey, the mountain often looks dark blue. But from other angles, its granite rocks can make it look pink!
Mountain Geography: What Makes Derry Cairngorm Special?
Derry Cairngorm is a long mountain, shaped like a ridge. It stretches for about six to seven kilometers (3.7 to 4.3 miles) from north to south. It starts in Glen Luibeg in the south. It ends at Coire Etchachan in the north. Here, it connects to Beinn Mheadhoin.
Inside Coire Etchachan, you'll find Loch Etchachan. This loch is 930 meters (3,051 feet) high. It's the highest large body of water in Great Britain! And guess what? It even has trout living in it.
The eastern side of the mountain drops steeply into Glen Derry. The western side slopes more gently down to the Luibeg Burn. The higher parts of Derry Cairngorm are covered in huge granite boulders. These make walking a bit tricky. You often have to hop from one boulder to another! This area of boulders is called a blockfield or felsenmeer. It formed from freezing and thawing over many years. All the water from the mountain flows south. It goes into the Derry and Luibeg burns. These then join the River Dee. Finally, the water reaches the sea at Aberdeen.
Important Peaks of Derry Cairngorm
Derry Cairngorm has two smaller peaks that are important to climbers. They are listed in the Munro Tables.
- Creagan a' Choire Etchachan is 1108 meters (3,635 feet) high. It's about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) north of the main summit. From here, you get a great view down into the wild Coire Etchachan.
- Sgurr an Lochan Uaine is 983 meters (3,225 feet) high. It's about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) north-east. From the main summit, it looks like a small hump near a cliff. But it looks much clearer from Glen Derry, which it overlooks.
Climbing Derry Cairngorm: Your Adventure Awaits!
You can climb Derry Cairngorm from either the east or west sides of the Cairngorms. You can climb it by itself or as part of a longer hike.
One way to climb it is from the east. You start at the Linn of Dee car park. From there, you follow a track to Derry Lodge. You can even use a bicycle for part of this path! After the lodge, you climb the southern ridge of Derry Cairngorm. You'll pass over a spot called Little Cairngorm on your way to the top.
Another way to climb is from the Cairn Gorm ski centre car park. This route involves climbing and crossing Ben Macdui first. Then you continue to Derry Cairngorm. Be careful on the Ben Macdui summit in bad weather. It can be hard to see in mist.
You can also combine the climb from Linn of Dee with other mountains. You could climb Càrn a' Mhàim and Ben Macdui too. This is a very long day of walking, over 30 kilometers (18.6 miles)! But using a bicycle to and from Derry Lodge can make it easier.
The view from the top of Derry Cairngorm is amazing. You can see all the other giant mountains of the Cairngorms looking fantastic!
