Na Gruagaichean
Encyclopedia
Na Gruagaichean is a Scottish
mountain lying between Glen Nevis
to the North and the village of Kinlochleven
to the South in the Mamores
mountain range in the Highlands, Scotland.
reaching a height of 1,056 m (3,465 ft) which makes it the 74th highest in the Munro classification and is located at the Eastern end of the Mamores range. Views of the summit are clear from the village and from the B863 road from Glencoe to Kinlochleven
except when the peak is shrouded in year-round mist. The mountain is one of the most accessible from the village due in part to its relatively close proximity and well defined path leading to the summit.
. The mountain is double topped at the intersection of three ridges, the South top being the higher and therefore the summit. The narrow North-East ridge connects to Binnein Mor
via a minor top (1062m) and the narrow West-North-West ridge connects to Stob Coire a' Chàirn
(981m) where a path ascends from Coire na Bà. The third South ridge leads to steep slopes overlooking Kinlochleven which provides excellent views of the village and the area. The mountain has a stony and, in places, craggy summit which gives great views of surrounding mountains such as Ben Nevis
and Binnein Mor
.
in conjunction with Binnein Beag
and Binnein Mor
as a ridge walk or a part as the challenging Ring of Steall ridge walk.
Bha uair-eigin a’fuireachd an Callairt duin’-uasal a bha ‘na shealgair fhiadh ro ainmeil…
There once lived in Callart a gentleman who was a very famous deer hunter. He had a greyhound the equal of which was not then to be found in Lochaber; but, like his master, he was growing old and losing his speed.
One day in Autumn the gentleman, followed by his old greyhound, ascended the hill above Kinloch More to chase the deer. He reached the corries he used to frequent; but though he saw herd after herd of them and followed them all day long, he never got near enough to shoot an arrow or to slip the dog after them. At length, when the sun was slipping down in the west, he came upon a fine-full grown stag all by himself, and he slipped the dog in pursuit of him. The dog stretched away with all his might, and at first was gaining on the stag, but as soon as the stag laid his antlers down over his shoulders, and lifted his nostrils in the air, the dog began to fall behind, and soon lost sight of him altogether.
Wearied and vexed, the gentleman sat down on a green hillock in a deep glen between two lofty mountains. He was not long there when two maidens of fairest form and mien stood before him, one of them holding a noble dog on a leash. The other was the first to speak, and she said:
“You are tired, hunter of the deer,” said she, “and vexed because the old dog has allowed the big stag to escape.”
”I am tired, indeed, and grieved, that the grey dog’s best days have passed,” answered the hunter.
“Courage, and take this dog with you,” said the second maiden, “and there is not a four-hoofed creature on the face of the earth, from the little hare to the full-antlered stag, but he will catch, and bring to you.”
“What is his name?” asked the hunter.
She replied that it was Brodum. He took the leash out of her hand, and thanked her for the dog. He then bade farewell to herself and her companion, and went away home.
As soon as he rose the next day, he brought everyone in the house out with him, and after turning his face towards the two mountains between which he had seen the maidens, he said: “Do you see yonder two mountains opposite you? From henceforth, remember that you are to call them the Maidens,” and that is what they are called to the present day.
The dog followed the gentleman as long as he lived, Never was a leather strap placed on a better dog. Whatever he was asked to do he did, and no creature he was sent after but he caught. And there was no man living he would follow, or answer, save his master.
When his master died he lost heart. He followed the funeral as far as the ravine between Callart and the next farm; but he stopped there and descended the ravine where he was seen entering a cave, out of which he never returned. His name is preserved in the names of these two places; for they are still called Brodum’s Ravine and Brodum’s Cave.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mountain lying between Glen Nevis
Glen Nevis
Glen Nevis is a glen in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, with Fort William at its foot. It is bordered to the south by the Mamore range, and to the north by the highest mountains in the British Isles: Ben Nevis, Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag...
to the North and the village of Kinlochleven
Kinlochleven
Kinlochleven is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe...
to the South in the Mamores
Mamores
The Mamores are a group of mountains in the Lochaber area of the Grampian Mountains in the Scottish Highlands. They form an east-west ridge approximately fifteen kilometres in length lying between Glen Nevis to the north and Loch Leven to the south....
mountain range in the Highlands, Scotland.
Overview
Na Gruagaichean is a MunroMunro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
reaching a height of 1,056 m (3,465 ft) which makes it the 74th highest in the Munro classification and is located at the Eastern end of the Mamores range. Views of the summit are clear from the village and from the B863 road from Glencoe to Kinlochleven
Kinlochleven
Kinlochleven is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe...
except when the peak is shrouded in year-round mist. The mountain is one of the most accessible from the village due in part to its relatively close proximity and well defined path leading to the summit.
Geography
The mountain lies four kilometres north north-east of the village of KinlochlevenKinlochleven
Kinlochleven is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe...
. The mountain is double topped at the intersection of three ridges, the South top being the higher and therefore the summit. The narrow North-East ridge connects to Binnein Mor
Binnein Mòr
Binnein Mòr is the highest peak in the Mamores, the range of mountains between Glen Nevis and Loch Leven in the Highlands of Scotland and lies five kilometres north north-east of Kinlochleven. The pyramidal summit of Binnein Mòr lies above the uninhabited upper section of Glen Nevis, north of the...
via a minor top (1062m) and the narrow West-North-West ridge connects to Stob Coire a' Chàirn
Stob Coire a' Chàirn
Stob Coire a’ Chàirn is a Scottish mountain situated in the Mamores range, 3.5 kilometres north of Kinlochleven. The mountain reaches a height of 981 metres and is regarded as one of the more modest peaks of the ten Munros in the Mamores, indeed for many years it was not named on OS maps...
(981m) where a path ascends from Coire na Bà. The third South ridge leads to steep slopes overlooking Kinlochleven which provides excellent views of the village and the area. The mountain has a stony and, in places, craggy summit which gives great views of surrounding mountains such as Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
and Binnein Mor
Binnein Mòr
Binnein Mòr is the highest peak in the Mamores, the range of mountains between Glen Nevis and Loch Leven in the Highlands of Scotland and lies five kilometres north north-east of Kinlochleven. The pyramidal summit of Binnein Mòr lies above the uninhabited upper section of Glen Nevis, north of the...
.
Ascents
Ascent up towards Na Gruagaichean usually starts at sea level in Kinlochleven, however it is possible to start by driving to Mamore Lodge and parking at the car park which saves 200m of ascent. From there it is usually climbed using the old stalkers path heading north away from the village before eventually turning east towards the summit. The mountain can also be climbed from Glen NevisGlen Nevis
Glen Nevis is a glen in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, with Fort William at its foot. It is bordered to the south by the Mamore range, and to the north by the highest mountains in the British Isles: Ben Nevis, Càrn Mor Dearg, Aonach Mòr, and Aonach Beag...
in conjunction with Binnein Beag
Binnein Beag
Binnein Beag is a Scottish mountain situated at the eastern end of the Mamores range seven kilometres north north-east of Kinlochleven. It is a relatively small, conical peak which is connected to its larger neighbour, Binnein Mòr, by a bealach at 750m. Despite being overshadowed by Binnein Mòr, it...
and Binnein Mor
Binnein Mòr
Binnein Mòr is the highest peak in the Mamores, the range of mountains between Glen Nevis and Loch Leven in the Highlands of Scotland and lies five kilometres north north-east of Kinlochleven. The pyramidal summit of Binnein Mòr lies above the uninhabited upper section of Glen Nevis, north of the...
as a ridge walk or a part as the challenging Ring of Steall ridge walk.
Folk Tale
told in Gaelic and English about Na Gruagaichean or The Maidens.Bha uair-eigin a’fuireachd an Callairt duin’-uasal a bha ‘na shealgair fhiadh ro ainmeil…
There once lived in Callart a gentleman who was a very famous deer hunter. He had a greyhound the equal of which was not then to be found in Lochaber; but, like his master, he was growing old and losing his speed.
One day in Autumn the gentleman, followed by his old greyhound, ascended the hill above Kinloch More to chase the deer. He reached the corries he used to frequent; but though he saw herd after herd of them and followed them all day long, he never got near enough to shoot an arrow or to slip the dog after them. At length, when the sun was slipping down in the west, he came upon a fine-full grown stag all by himself, and he slipped the dog in pursuit of him. The dog stretched away with all his might, and at first was gaining on the stag, but as soon as the stag laid his antlers down over his shoulders, and lifted his nostrils in the air, the dog began to fall behind, and soon lost sight of him altogether.
Wearied and vexed, the gentleman sat down on a green hillock in a deep glen between two lofty mountains. He was not long there when two maidens of fairest form and mien stood before him, one of them holding a noble dog on a leash. The other was the first to speak, and she said:
“You are tired, hunter of the deer,” said she, “and vexed because the old dog has allowed the big stag to escape.”
”I am tired, indeed, and grieved, that the grey dog’s best days have passed,” answered the hunter.
“Courage, and take this dog with you,” said the second maiden, “and there is not a four-hoofed creature on the face of the earth, from the little hare to the full-antlered stag, but he will catch, and bring to you.”
“What is his name?” asked the hunter.
She replied that it was Brodum. He took the leash out of her hand, and thanked her for the dog. He then bade farewell to herself and her companion, and went away home.
As soon as he rose the next day, he brought everyone in the house out with him, and after turning his face towards the two mountains between which he had seen the maidens, he said: “Do you see yonder two mountains opposite you? From henceforth, remember that you are to call them the Maidens,” and that is what they are called to the present day.
The dog followed the gentleman as long as he lived, Never was a leather strap placed on a better dog. Whatever he was asked to do he did, and no creature he was sent after but he caught. And there was no man living he would follow, or answer, save his master.
When his master died he lost heart. He followed the funeral as far as the ravine between Callart and the next farm; but he stopped there and descended the ravine where he was seen entering a cave, out of which he never returned. His name is preserved in the names of these two places; for they are still called Brodum’s Ravine and Brodum’s Cave.