Misplaced Pages

#827172

62-693: The Lecht Ski Centre is an alpine ski area in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands . The ski slopes are set around the mountains Beinn a' Chruinnich, 2,552 ft (778 m) and Meikle Corr Riabhach, 2556 ft (779 m). The Lecht is the smallest ski area in Scotland in terms of area, number of runs and vertical drop and as such is the most suitable for beginners. 15 lifts provide access to 23 groomed pistes. The smooth, grassy terrain of Beinn a' Chruinnich and Meikle Corr Riabhach often allows

124-719: A base for visitors to the core mountain area. Much of the core mountain area is owned by conservation bodies, with the National Trust for Scotland owning Mar Lodge Estate , and the RSPB's Abernethy Estate stretching from the lower slopes up to the plateau. The main private landowners are the Glenavon Estate in the northeast, the Invercauld Estate in the southeast, the Glen Feshie Estate to

186-545: A common feature of the Cairngorm granite massif, being especially frequent on Ben Avon and Beinn Mheadhoin and impressively high on Bynack More . They represent masses of granite which are less closely jointed than surrounding rock and which have therefore been less susceptible to underground weathering associated with fluid percolation along joints. The present tors have been exhumed over a long period of time, not least by periglacial processes associated with ice ages during

248-473: A distinct variety of soils, vegetation, and animals. To a great extent the remnants survived on land that was either too steep, too rocky, or too remote to be agriculturally useful. The largest remnants are in Strathspey and Strath Dee on highly acidic, freely drained glacial deposits that are of little value for cultivation and domestic stock. An examination of the earliest maps of Scotland suggests that

310-510: A few other hardy species. On the west coast, oak and birch predominated in a temperate rainforest ecosystem rich in ferns , mosses and lichens . The name comes from Pliny the Elder who reveals that 30 years after the Roman invasion of Britain their knowledge of it did not extend beyond the neighbourhood of silva caledonia . He gives no information about where the silva caledonia was, but

372-684: A growing interest to reintroduce animals which are native to but currently extinct in Great Britain , back into Caledonian pine forests. Corporations have been set up to persuade the government to allow this. The long-running campaign to reintroduce the Eurasian beaver to Knapdale in Argyll has been successful, and there is some support for the reintroduction of the grey wolf and Eurasian lynx . Recently, some landowners have announced plans to build large game reserves on their land and release

434-678: A mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain Cairn Gorm . The Cairngorms became part of Scotland's second national park (the Cairngorms National Park ) on 1 September 2003. Although the Cairngorms give their name to, and are at the heart of, the Cairngorms National Park, they only form one part of the national park, alongside other hill ranges such as

496-614: A time by cupping an ear and shouting into it. The lowest recorded temperature in the United Kingdom has twice been recorded in the Cairngorms, at Braemar , where a temperature of −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F), was recorded on 11 February 1895 and 10 January 1982. The greatest British wind speed of 176 mph (283 km/h) was measured at Cairngorm summit weather station in January 1993. The weather can be very hazardous at times, with dangerous and unpredictable conditions. What

558-485: Is a reference to "Aurora peeping over the immense Cairngorms." Cairn Gorm is generally translated as Blue Cairn , although the Gaelic gorm is also used as an adjective and verb, meaning green or greening and is often seen in connection with growing grass. Thus, there is a contradiction or confusion, because the original Scottish Gaelic name of the mountains translates to English as the "red hills" whilst their English name

620-444: Is an over-riding concern for the long-term conservation of this area. Ptarmigan has been considered as an indicator species for this process, although the natural population cycles of this bird do not seem to have been disrupted as yet. Other man-made threats include the problems of popularity in a country with limited wilderness resources and a large, relatively affluent urban population. These include various types of recreation and

682-460: Is briefly explained, " a Chyledyr Wyllt y uab, a llad Nwython a oruc a diot y gallon, a chymhell yssu callon y dat, ac am hynny yd aeth Kyledyr yg gwyllt ." ("and his son Kyledyr the Wild. Gwynn killed Nwython and cut out his heart, and forced Kyledyr to eat his father's heart, and that is how Kyledyr went mad"). Though not named directly, the very name Kyledyr Wyllt is close to the two related notions of

SECTION 10

#1732801149828

744-491: Is considered an indicator species for that habitat type. Fire appears to increase the natural recruitment of Scots pine seedlings. The charity Trees for Life (Scotland) has been working to conserve the remaining forest, and reforest areas where it has been lost, using fences to prevent deer from eating saplings. This involves the reintroduction of the full range of native flora, including mycorrhizal fungi that assist soil regeneration . In recent years, there has been

806-633: Is home to the endangered capercaillie and endemic Scottish crossbill. As well being included as part of the Cairngorms National Park the Cairngorm Mountains are designated as a national scenic area , one of 40 such areas in Scotland. Apart from a small area around the Cairngorm Ski Area , the whole of the mountain area is protected as both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area , thus forming part of

868-633: Is often described as Britain's worst mountaineering tragedy, the Cairngorm Plateau Disaster , left five children and one adult dead in November 1971. Cairn Gorm gets 320 cm (130 in) of snow annually according to snowforecast.com. The Cairngorms hold some of the longest-lying snow patches in Scotland : In 1994, the Cairngorms and surrounding mountains of north-east Scotland had 55 surviving patches, an exceptional number. The Cairngorms were formed 40 million years before

930-540: Is often observed in the European Alps or Rockies. The weather often deteriorates rapidly with altitude so that, when there are moderate conditions 150 m (490 ft) below the plateau, the top can be stormy or misty, and there can be icy or powdery snow. Even when no snow is falling, the wind can whip up lying snow to produce white-out conditions for a few metres above the surface, and snowdrifts can build up rapidly in sheltered places. Gravel can be blown through

992-503: Is situated on the slopes above the A939 road between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul . This road is one of the highest main roads in the United Kingdom , navigating several mountain passes and rising to an elevation of 2090 ft (637m) at the Lecht. Local folklore has it that the road is blocked by snow between October and June. Whilst this is obviously exaggerated, the traditional heralding of

1054-519: Is the "blue hills" or the "green hills". The Cairngorms consist of three large elevated plateaux adorned with low, rounded glacial mountains, and divided by the passes of the Lairig an Laoigh and the Lairig Ghru . The range gives the sense of being a single plateau, because the passes that cut through them are not very deep: the summit of Lairig an Laoigh lies at 740 m (2,430 ft), whilst

1116-551: The Angus Glens and the Monadhliath , and lower areas like Strathspey . The Cairngorms consists of high plateaux at about 1,000–1,200 m (3,300–3,900 ft) above sea level, above which domed summits (the eroded stumps of once much higher mountains ) rise to around 1,300 m (4,300 ft). Many of the summits have tors , free-standing rock outcrops that stand on top of the boulder-strewn landscape. In places,

1178-666: The Beinn a' Bhùird (1,196 m (3,924 ft)) – Ben Avon (1,171 m (3,842 ft)) massif without descending below the 740 m (2,430 ft) summit of the Lairig an Laoigh. The range is drained by the Rivers Dee and Spey ; and the latter's two tributaries: the Rivers Feshie and Avon. The approximate southern boundary of the Cairngorm range is generally reckoned to run from slightly east of Braemar , west along

1240-637: The Black Book of Carmarthen . The forest is also the retreat of another character named Lailoken from the Vita Kentigerni , who also fled into the woods in a fit of madness and who may be the original model for Myrddin Wyllt. William A. Young argues that Brocéliande , the forest which features in Chrétien de Troys ' Arthurian romance, Le Chevalier au lion , may be the forest of Celython. In

1302-539: The British Isles and are home to five of the six highest mountains in Scotland: There are no public roads through the Cairngorms, and all the public roads in the general area either skirt the Cairngorms or stop short, providing access to them only. From the south and south-east, motorised access ends at Linn of Dee , or Allanaquoich . From the north-west, a road passes Coylumbridge , Glenmore and

SECTION 20

#1732801149828

1364-532: The Caledonian Forest surrounding Loch Morlich , is also designated as a national nature reserve. The Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve lies on the western flanks of the range, and extends to the summit of Sgòr Gaoith . The Cairngorms represents an unusually cold area of mountains in a maritime climate at 57 degrees north . The climate is projected to warm—and precipitation patterns to change—under present climate change models. This

1426-609: The Dee and Glen Geldie to the head of Glen Feshie. The western edge of the range is defined by Glen Feshie and the River Spey as far as Aviemore , with the northern boundary running roughly eastward from Aviemore through Glenmore to Glen Avon . The eastern boundary is defined by Glen Avon and the Am Bealach Dearg, thus ending slightly east of Braemar. The Cairngorms feature the highest, coldest and snowiest plateaus in

1488-537: The Mountain Bothies Association for use by walkers and climbers to provide shelter and rough sleeping accommodation. With the exception of the bothies, there are no buildings or settlements within the Cairngorms, nor is there evidence for historic settlement, except in the uppermost reaches of the Derry and Gairn rivers. In the surrounding areas, villages such as Aviemore and Braemar provide

1550-752: The Natura 2000 network of protected sites. The Cairngorms are classified as a Category IV protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . The Cairngorms were declared a national nature reserve (NNR) in 1954, being the largest NNR in Britain. In 2006 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) reviewed the Cairngorms NNR, and it was decided that the reserve should be broken up into separate, smaller reserves that reflected existing management units. There now are four NNRs within

1612-506: The temperate coniferous forests began retreating north into the Scottish Highlands , the last remaining climatic region suitable for them in the British Isles (see Climate of Scotland ). The native pinewoods that formed this westernmost outpost of the taiga of post-glacial Europe are estimated to have covered 15,000 km (3,700,000 acres) as a vast wilderness of Scots pine , birch , rowan , aspen , juniper , oak and

1674-404: The 1980s showed that further damage had occurred through ploughing and planting with non-native conifers with less than 12,000 ha of the ancient habitat remaining. A subsequent guide to the ancient pinewoods reviews the conservation story and provides a summary of the management in each site as well as a guide on how to reach all the woods using public transport, walking, and cycling. Much of

1736-441: The 35) covering about 180 square kilometres (69 sq mi) or 44,000 acres (18,000 ha). The Scots pines of these remnants are, by definition, directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following the ice age. These remnants have adapted genetically to different Scottish environments, and as such, are globally unique; their ecological characteristics form an unbroken, 9000-year chain of natural evolution with

1798-514: The Allargue Arms Hotel near Corgarff just below the snow gates. The Lecht Ski Centre has since grown into a year-round mountain activity centre. A new purpose built ski in-ski out day lodge at the bottom of the ski slopes offers a ski equipment rental department, a ski shop selling equipment and clothes, a ski school, cafe, bar and restaurant. The lodge is available for business meetings, private functions and weddings. The ski centre

1860-560: The British Isles: Mammal species present in Caledonian pine forests: Insect species in the Caledonian pine forests: Mammal species extinct in Caledonian pine forests: A review of the native pinewoods of Scotland Steven & Carlisle (1959) highlighted the plight of the remaining 35 ancient pinewood sites, many of which had been damaged by felling, fire and intensive grazing from sheep and deer. A later review in

1922-812: The Caledonian Forest are directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following the Late Glacial ; arriving about 7000 BC . The forest reached its maximum extent about 5000 BC , after which the Scottish climate became wetter and windier. This changed climate reduced the extent of the forest significantly by 2000 BC . From that date, human actions (including the grazing effects of sheep and deer) reduced it to its current extent. Today, that forest exists as 35 remnants, as authenticated by Steven & Carlisle (1959) (or 84 remnants, including later subjective subdivisions of

Lecht Ski Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue

1984-516: The European Union Habitats Directive . Scientific research continues on the ecology of the Caledonian Forest and its restoration. Populations of the rare groundcover, Linnaea borealis , may be too isolated from one another to produce viable seed. Diversity of fungi has also been affected by the decrease in habitat. The agaric fungus Mycena purpureofusca is commonly found in Caledonian pine woods, and it

2046-414: The Lecht, despite the modest summit elevation, to provide snow sports with marginal snow cover when other ski areas in Scotland, with more mountainous terrain, may be closed. The ski centre has been operating since the mid 1970s. Prior to the acquisition of snow blowers in the late 1970s a small portable ski tow, giving approximately 200 feet (60 metres) of ski run, was often set up in the fields across from

2108-462: The Middle Welsh story Culhwch and Olwen , the main character Culhwch is the son of a king named Celyddon Wledig, who may or may not be related to the forest in name. Another figure from the same story, Cyledyr Wyllt hints at a close relationship of the forest being a retreat for people who suffered from a special kind of madness or gwyllt (Irish geilt ). In line 994 to 996 of the story, it

2170-701: The Old Welsh poem Cad Goddeu ("Battle of the Trees") are intended to be the Caledonian Forest. In related Merlin literature, the figure of Myrddin Wyllt retreated to these woods in his madness after the Battle of Arfderydd in the year 573. He fled from the alleged wrath of the king of Strathclyde, Rhydderch Hael , after the slaying of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio . This is written in the two Merlinic poems in Middle Welsh Yr Oinau and Yr Afallenau in

2232-504: The Quaternary period. The Cairngorms provide a unique alpine semi-tundra moorland habitat, home to many rare plants, birds and animals. Speciality bird species on the plateaux include breeding ptarmigan , dotterel , snow bunting , golden eagle , ring ouzel and red grouse , with snowy owl , twite , purple sandpiper and Lapland bunting seen on occasion. Mammal species include red deer and mountain hare , as well as

2294-406: The Scottish winter occurs when the road is first blocked and this is usually reported in the national news. 57°10′05″N 3°13′53″W  /  57.1681°N 3.2315°W  / 57.1681; -3.2315 This article about a Scottish sports venue is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Cairngorms The Cairngorms ( Scottish Gaelic : Am Monadh Ruadh ) are

2356-636: The Sugarbowl to end at the car park at the Cairngorm Mountain ski resort . The majority of hill-walkers access the range from these road ends. In terms of height, remoteness and the severe and changeable weather, the Cairngorms are the most arduous area in the United Kingdom. The plateau area has a Tundra climate ( Köppen ET ), and the shattered terrain is more like the high ground in high-arctic Canada or northern Norway than what

2418-420: The air, and walking can be impossible. When a gale is accompanied by thick storms of ground drift, or worse, by heavy falling blizzards plus ground drift, or worse still by mist as well, conditions can be extremely serious on the plateau, making it suffocating and difficult to breathe, hard to open your eyes, impossible to see anything beyond your own feet, and unable to communicate with your party except one at

2480-488: The area is the most dependable in Britain. The mountains are also popular for hill-walking , ski touring and climbing , and there are three alpine ski centres in the range, at Cairn Gorm , The Lecht and Glenshee . The range lies in the Scottish council areas of Aberdeenshire , Moray and Highland , and within the counties of Aberdeenshire , Inverness-shire and Banffshire . The original Gaelic name for

2542-460: The area, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a supposedly protected area. A condition was therefore imposed under which walkers were not allowed outside the top station if arriving by funicular, although this did not apply to skiers and snowboarders in the winter. In 2010 the operating company proposed to modify this requirement to allow guided walks, whilst still preventing general access. Guided walks continued to be

Lecht Ski Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue

2604-519: The area. Glacial erosion is represented in deep valleys which dissect the area. Many valleys are littered with glacial deposits from the period of glacial retreat. The most famous valley is the Lairig Ghru pass, a gouge through the centre of the mountains—a u-shaped valley, now partly filled with extensive scree produced by intense frost action during ice-free periods. Many parts of the Cairngorms exhibit classic periglacial weathering which occurred during cold periods in ice-free areas. Tors are

2666-565: The associated trampling damage and erosion, disturbance, litter and threats to water quality. The valleys between the individual plateaux were used as drove roads by cattle drovers who built rough protective shelters for their arduous journeys. At about the same time that droving was dying out towards the end of the 19th century, deer stalking estates were flourishing, and so the shelters were developed into bothies to provide improved, though still primitive, accommodation for gamekeepers . In modern times, these bothies have been taken over by

2728-567: The central massif are many remnants of the Caledonian forest in straths and glens of the Rivers Spey and Dee . These forests support many species that are rare elsewhere in Britain, including red squirrels , pine marten , wood ants , Scottish crossbill , capercaillie and crested tit . There are no glaciers, but snow can fall in any month of the year, and snow patches usually persist all summer; for snow and ice climbing ,

2790-401: The core mountain area of the Cairngorms. Mar Lodge Estate , which covers the south side of the plateau and the watershed of the upper Dee has been classified as a national nature reserve since May 2017. The Abernethy Forest National Nature Reserve covers a stretch of land from the plateau down to Loch Garten on the north side of the range, and Glenmore Forest Park , covering a remnant of

2852-510: The edges of the plateau form steep cliffs of granite and they are excellent for skiing , rock climbing and ice climbing . The Cairngorms form an arctic-alpine mountain environment, with tundra -like characteristics and long-lasting snow patches. This area is home to bird species such as ptarmigan , dotterel , snow bunting , curlew and red grouse , as well as mammals such as mountain hare . The plateau also supports Britain's only herd of reindeer (albeit semi-domesticated). Surrounding

2914-527: The extent of the Caledonian Forest remnants has changed little since 1600. Following the last glacial period , trees began to recolonise what is now the British Isles over a land bridge which is now beneath the Strait of Dover . Forests of this type were found all over what is now the island of Great Britain for a few thousand years, before the climate began to slowly warm in the Atlantic period , and

2976-611: The forest of Celyddon being where people suffering madness or gwyllt hide. Being a unique ecosystem in the British Isles, the Caledonian Pinewoods are home to some of the islands' rarest wildlife . It is considered to be one of the last remaining wildernesses in the British Isles. Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests found breeding nowhere else in the British Isles: Breeding bird species in Caledonian pine forests rare elsewhere in

3038-547: The hills. Angling for trout and salmon is popular in the lochs and rivers that surround the mountains, and Loch Avon in the very heart of the range is noted for its Arctic charr . Other popular activities include birdwatching and wildlife watching , whilst the Cairngorm Gliding Club (based in Glen Feshie) offers the opportunity for gliding . Caledonian forest The Scots pines of

3100-639: The known extent of the Roman occupation suggest that it was north of the River Clyde and west of the River Tay . In the Matter of Britain , the forest is the site of one of King Arthur 's Twelve Battles, according to the Historia Brittonum , in which the battle is called Cat Coit Celidon . Scholars Rachel Bromwich and Marged Haycock suggest that the army of trees animated by sorcerers in

3162-405: The last ice age , when slight uplift raised an eroded peneplain based on an exposed granite pluton . The highest present-day peaks represent eroded monadnock hills. During the ice ages, the ice caps that covered most of northern Scotland remained static—frozen to the ground for long periods—and actually protected the rounded summits and valleys and deep, weathered granite of the mountains of

SECTION 50

#1732801149828

3224-574: The last major ones of its kind in the British Isles, known as the Caledonian forest . In the forests, capercaillie , black grouse , Scottish crossbill , parrot crossbill and crested tit are found. Of particular fame is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB ) reserve at Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten . A famous pair of ospreys are present in the summer months, and they often attract large crowds to see them. The forest

3286-411: The northern corries. This area boasts what was for a time probably the world's hardest traditionally protected mixed climb: "The Hurting", grade XI. As with all land in Scotland, there is a right of responsible access to the mountains for those wishing to participate in recreational pursuits, although the restriction on access via the funicular means walkers and climbers cannot use the railway to access

3348-422: The only herd of reindeer in the British Isles . They now roam the high Cairngorms, after being reintroduced in 1952 by a Swedish herdsman. The herd is now stable at around 150 individuals, some born in Scotland and some introduced from Sweden; since the individuals depend on humans for food and come from domesticated stock, they are not considered wild. The surrounding areas feature an ancient woodland , one of

3410-413: The only way for walkers and summer visitors to access the plateau if arriving via the funicular as of 2017. The mountains are very popular for hill-walking , with eighteen Munros lying between Ben Avon in the east and Glen Feshie in the west. In winter these summits can often be reached by ski touring . The Cairngorms have excellent climbing , and has long attracted winter climbers , especially in

3472-479: The range is Am Monadh Ruadh (the red hills), distinguishing them from Am Monadh Liath (the grey hills), which lie to the west of the River Spey : If you look from Aviemore on a clear evening, the granite screes of Lairig Ghru and Braeriach do glow a warm red in the sun. The name Am Monadh Ruadh still lives among the oldest folk of Strath Spey, but long ago, outsiders had replaced it with 'the Cairngorms', on maps and in guide books. The English language name for

3534-493: The range is Cairngorms, and is derived from Cairn Gorm , which is prominent in the view of the mountains from Speyside. The earliest reference to this name appears to be from a Colonel T. Thornton, who visited the area in about 1786: The use of the term "Cairngorms" as applied to the group must have become well established early in the nineteenth century, for we find it in Col Thornton's Sporting Tour (1804), where there

3596-476: The remaining Caledonian pine forest is fully protected with most of the forest lying within the Cairngorms National Park . The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Forestry and Land Scotland also own several areas of pinewood on their reserves. One of the largest remaining areas is Ballochbuie Forest on the Balmoral Estate , which is protected as a Special Area of Conservation under

3658-659: The southwest and the Rothiemurchus Estate in the northwest. There is a funicular railway on Cairn Gorm serving the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre. The funicular opened in late 2001, and runs from a base station at 637 m up to the Ptarmigan Centre, situated at 1097 m, 150 m from the summit of Cairn Gorm. It was built amidst some controversy, with supporters of the scheme claiming that it would bring valuable tourist income into

3720-437: The species within them. Paul Lister plans to release Eurasian lynx, brown bear , grey wolf, elk , wild boar and species already present in Scotland into a huge 200 km (49,000-acre) enclosure at his estate, Alladale Wilderness Reserve , although releasing top predators such as wolves and bears has become a difficult proposition with local and national regulations. An initial trial enclosure of 5.5 km (1,400 acres)

3782-642: The summit of the Lairig Ghru is at 835 m (2,740 ft) above sea level at the Pools of Dee , where the water may be frozen over even in mid-summer. This means a walker could cross between the Cairntoul (1,293 m (4,242 ft)) – Braeriach (1,296 m (4,252 ft)) massif to the Ben Macdui (1,309 m (4,295 ft)) – Cairn Gorm (1,245 m (4,085 ft)) massif and thence onto

SECTION 60

#1732801149828

3844-556: Was built with elk, wild boar, red deer and roe deer. Bain (2013) lists 38 ancient pinewood sites in Britain which have been identified as the most genuinely native and natural. All of them occur in the Scottish Highlands. The Caledonian Pinewood Inventory breaks these down into 84 smaller sub-units of the main sites. In March 2019, as part of the implementation of the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018 ,

#827172