Ben Macdui

It was unclear for a long time whether Ben Nevis or Ben Macdui was the highest mountain in the UK before proper mapping was invented (much of the local Aviemore community believed that their mountain was higher than Ben Nevis). However, Macdui's status as the second-highest peak in the UK and the highest peak in the Cairngorm National Park has long been established.

The path that leads up over slowly rising moorland from the Coire Cas car park at the foot of Cairngorm Ski Centre is probably the easiest route of ascent. This route is approximately 7 kilometers long; however, a slightly longer route allows for the ascent of Cairn Gorm. Another option is to take the path that leads up from Loch Etchachan. This loch can be accessed from either Loch Avon to the north or Glen Derry to the south. Other options include crossing the Derry Cairngorm or passing through the Lairig Ghru pass to the west of Ben Macdui. By Scottish standards, nearly all of these routes are long days. Bicycles are commonly used to travel the 5 km from the road end at Linn of Dee to Derry Lodge at the southern end of the massif when approaching from the south.

The legendary Am Fear Liath Mr, or Greyman, is said to haunt the Ben Macdui area. Mountaineer Norman Collie claimed to have heard footsteps before fleeing from the summit in terror, and there have been several other reports of an unexplained presence.

Elevation: 1,309m
Location: Cairngorms
Scottish Gaelic name: Beinn Mac Duibh
Gaelic Meaning: Mountain of the son of Duff/MacDuff or Hill of the Black Pig