Creag Meagaidh

Creag Meagaidh is a mountain peak in the Scottish Highlands standing at 1130 meters with a broad plateau summit surrounded by five prominent ridges and deep corries. Substantial cliff walls create steep terrain that defines the landscape and makes the approach challenging.

The first documented ascent took place in 1786 when Thomas Thornton climbed to the summit, initiating recorded mountaineering in this region. This early exploration helped establish the area as a destination for mountain activities in the Highlands.

The mountain sits within a National Nature Reserve created to protect rare mountain birds and native Scottish plants. Visitors walking here become part of efforts to preserve these habitats and experience land managed for ecological recovery.

Climbers reach the mountain via established routes from Aberarder or Moy, with the summit marked by a large stone cairn for navigation. Winter ascents require experience and proper gear, as conditions can become harsh and unpredictable on the exposed plateau.

The corrie walls harbor specialized moss heath communities that have survived centuries of heavy grazing and now support rare alpine plant species. These small habitats represent some of the last places where such adapted ecosystems persist in the region.