Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve
Creag Meagaidh at 1128 metres high, is a Scottish 'Munro' (a mountain over 3000 feet or 914 metres in height). It is also a National Nature Reserve run by Scottish Natural Heritage. The mountain has a rounded plateau top but carved deeply into it are classic glacial corries of Coire Coille-rais with its lochan and Coire Ardair with a lochan and formidable cliffs.
There is a strenuous but highly scenic circular walk going up from Aberarder Farm past Coire Ardair and back down along the ridge between Coire Ardair and Coire Cholle-rais. Allow from 7 to 9 hours for this 16 km (10 mile) walk.
Since it was taken over by SNH, sheep have been removed and deer numbers reduced considerably so that there is now a lot of natural regeneration of native woodland and diversification of flora and fauna with considerable numbers of young trees lower down and also dwarf willows, mosses and lichens above the treeline. The plateau is an important breeding ground for dotterel. Ptarmigan, red grouse and mountain hare are also found, and, of course, red deer and roe deer.
The reserve has a free car park.
Contact
Scottish Natural Heritage
Aberarder
Kinloch Laggan
by-Newtonmore
Inverness-shire
PH20 1BX
Scotland
Tel: +44 (1528) 544265
Fax: +44 (1528) 544265
WWW: http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/reserve.asp?NNRId=21
