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Beinn Mheadhoin

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
1182 m (3877 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NJ02470170
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
13 of 282 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Middle hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  36   Grantown & Aviemore, Cairngorm Mountains
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Beinn Mheadhoin is an unusual mountain with its gently rounded summit plateau dominated by tors (rock outcrops) one of which is the summit. The N face of the summit tor is easily climbed.

The E slopes to the Lairig an Laoigh are steep with some rock crags, but routes can be found there. There are steep slopes and crags to the S, especially Stob Coire Etchachan, and crags to the W at Stacan Dubha, otherwise the slopes are moderate with grass and some heather lower down.

Beinn Mheadhoin is surrounded by a network of paths allowing it to be included in many routes.

Hazards you may encounter on Beinn Mheadhoin include
 High Plateau, summit may be difficult to locate.
 Scrambling (minor), easy hand and footholds.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Beinn Mheadhoin

Loch Avon 4/8/07

© Ken Mcinnes
Image by Ken Mcinnes

Summit Tor of Beinn Mheadhoin

© David Walker
Image by David Walker

Beinn Mheadhoin from Glen Derry.

© Roger Vander Steen
Image by Roger Vander Steen

Beinn Mheadhoin from Derry Cairngorm

© Graham Young
Image by Graham Young
View All 40 Images for Beinn Mheadhoin

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format) 		East Highlands
by Met Office 		Beinn Mheadhoin
by Metcheck
Beinn Mheadhoin Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

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The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Beinn Mheadhoin.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Beinn Mheadhoin
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1215 m 32.77 km 9 hrs Beinn Mheadhoin  This is a long route requiring endurance, but the ascent is not technically difficult. The summit is a rocky "torr" but this is not difficult to climb. The route time can be shortened by cycling into Glen Derry.  
2 1841 m 18.42 km 7 hrs Cairn Gorm and Beinn Mheadhoin  Moderate route but with steep descent from Coire Raibeirt to Loch Avon. This is an interesting climb covering a variety of terrain and offering excellent views.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin

  Baggers Gallery for Beinn Mheadhoin

Me and Eddie on the summit Tor.Photo taken by Justine from Perth in Western Australia

© Ian Mather
Image by Ian Mather

Jorja at one of the tors near the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin - she ran up the summit one quite the thing, btw! September 2011.

© Scott Blair
Image by Scott Blair

On top of Ben Mheadhoin.

© Steve Watson
Image by Steve Watson

Me at the top of Beinn Mheadhoin

© ian mckay
Image by ian mckay
View All 16 Baggers Images for Beinn Mheadhoin
The logging section stores any entries for Beinn Mheadhoin in your own log. From here you can
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  Logging
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Recently Climbed By
David Buchanan-dunlop on 01 Sep 2024
Adam Rixon on 02 Jun 2024

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 Shared Members Track Logs

Post a few words about Beinn Mheadhoin or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
David Yorston
wrote on
May 22, 2010
Climbed from Cairn Gorm car park, via Fiacaill buttress and Coire Dhomain. The rivers were in spate from snow melt, and crossing them was difficult. The 1:25,000 Cairngorms map has a footbridge marked at the entrance to Loch Avon. It does not exist, and there is no sign that it ever existed - be prepared to wade! It is a hard day but a great route, with changing scenery and varied terrain.
Roger Vander Steen
wrote on
October 10, 2007
7th October 2007. We walked from Linn of Dee via Derry Lodge and Loch Etchachan, returning the same way. We thought about the MM ascent from Lairig an Laoigh but rejected it in favour of the good path on the other route. The dry weather allowed maximum use of friction on the summit rock. We took just over nine hours.
Robert Healey
wrote on
June 9, 2007
I climbed this mountain in March 2000. The route avoids the skiing paraphenalia of Cairngorm and the steep descent into & out of Avon. I started from Glenmore Lodge, and went via Bynack Stable and the Lairig an Laoigh to the Fords of Avon Bothy, crossed the out flow from Loch Avon then started the ascent to the summit which is very steep at first, and then eases. I found the summit tor tricky as it had been snowing quite heavily. I returned by the same way. It is probably better to return by The Saddle as it involves only a short ascent. This is a long day, about 12 hours, but a good one!
Chris Ridley
wrote on
July 29, 2006
After climbing from Coire Cas to Cairn Gorm summit, down through Coire Raibert and then ascending Southern ridge to the summit on the 'standard route', didn't want to lose height so continued to Derry Cairngorm, back over Ben Macdui and the tourist route back to Cairngorm. A long route, but one that means the pull back from Loch Avon into Coire Raibert was avoided.
Leighton Davies
wrote on
August 9, 2005
I climbed this with my wife Gill in Aug 2004. Started up Fiacaill a Coire Cas at 9 am - good warm up, fantastic views to Mheadhoin, Macdui and beyond at top - then horrid steep descent of Coire Raibert, wet feet at Loch Avon, lunch at Shelter Stone, steady climb to Loch Etchachan, then over open ground, with no real path, to top of Beinn Mheadhoin 2.30 pm. Fun scramble to top of tors. Steep descent, again no path, to outlet of Loch Avon, very wet feet (boots off) and up to Saddle 5 pm. Couldn't face reascending Cairngorm so walked out via Strath Nethy - back at Glenmore Lodge 9 pm. Great day!
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

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