Ladder Hills facts for kids

The Ladder Hills are a group of hills in northeast Scotland. They sit right on the edge between Aberdeenshire and Moray. These hills are part of the larger Grampian Mountains range.

The highest point in the Ladder Hills is a peak called Càrn Mòr. This name means "big cairn" in English. It stands tall at 804 meters (2,638 feet) and is known as a Corbett. Other important peaks in the area include Monadh an t-Sluich Leith (800m), Carn Liath (792m), Dun Muir (754m), and Little Geal Charn (742m).

What Are the Ladder Hills Made Of?

The Ladder Hills are mostly made of very old rocks. These rocks were formed a long, long time ago, even before dinosaurs! They started as sandstone and mudstone. Over millions of years, heat and pressure deep inside the Earth changed them into harder rocks. This process is called metamorphism.

The main types of rocks you'll find here are quartzites, psammites, and pelites. These rocks are part of special groups called the Ladder Hills and Kymah Quartzite formations. Sometimes, you can also find rocks that have a lot of carbonate in them. Thin layers of a different type of rock, called metadolerite dykes, also cut through the older rocks. The rocks in the hills are very folded and often tilt steeply.

The Ladder Pass

The Ladder Hills get their name from a special high pass. This pass is like a natural pathway through the hills. A path follows a stream called the Ladder Burn. It climbs up from an area known as the Braes of Glenlivet. Then, it goes southeast down to a place called Duffdefiance, which is near Strathdon.

Hikers and walkers often use this pass. They can reach Càrn Mòr, the highest peak, from both the Braes of Glenlivet and Duffdefiance. Another way to get to the hills is from the Bridge of Leachd, which is on the A939 road to the southwest.

Protecting Nature in the Ladder Hills

The Ladder Hills are a very important natural area. They are located within the northeastern part of the Cairngorms National Park. This park is a large protected area in Scotland.

A big part of the Ladder Hills, covering over 4,350 hectares, is a special area of conservation. This means it's a special place for nature. It's protected because of its unique Alpine and Boreal heath. This is a type of open land with small shrubs and plants that can handle cold weather. The area also has active blanket bog, which is a type of wet, spongy ground.

Besides being a special area of conservation, the Ladder Hills are also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means the area is important for its plants, animals, or geology.

Wildlife

Many interesting animals live in the Ladder Hills. You might spot birds like the golden plover, which has a beautiful golden-brown back. The dunlin is another small bird that lives in wet areas. You might also see the dotterel, a type of plover that likes high, open ground. And of course, ravens, large black birds, are common in the skies above the hills.