Beinn Achaladair

Beinn Achaladair
Beinn Achaladair seen from the north west near Loch Tulla.
Highest point
Elevation	1,038 m (3,406 ft)
Prominence	225 m (738 ft)
Parent peak	Beinn a' Chreachain
Listing	Munro, Marilyn
Naming
Translation	Hill of the Field of Hard Water or Hill of the Mower (Gaelic)
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [ˈpeɲ ˈaxəlˠ̪ət̪ɛɾʲ]
Geography
Location	Argyll & Perthshire, Scotland
Parent range	Bridge of Orchy Hills, Grampians
OS grid	NN344432
Topo map	OS Landranger 50, OS Explorer 377
Climbing
Easiest route	By Coire Achaladair

Beinn Achaladair is a Scottish mountain situated six kilometres north east of the hamlet of Bridge of Orchy. The mountain stands on the border of the Perth and Kinross and Argyll and Bute council areas.

Beinn Achaladair is a distinct landmark for both road and rail travellers with both the A82 road and the West Highland Line passing close to the foot of the mountain with the railway actually traversing the lower northern slopes before crossing Rannoch Moor on its way to Fort William. The mountain looks impressive from the north west throwing down steep wall like slopes and along with the three adjoining Munros of Beinn Dorain, Beinn an Dothaidh, and Beinn a' Chreachain it forms the historical Great Wall of Rannoch, which was the boundary between the old Pictish Kingdom to the east and the Dál Riata kingdom of the Scots in the west.

Beinn Achaladair reaches a height of 1,038 metres (3,406 ft) and is classed as a Munro and a Marilyn, geographically it is part of the southern highlands but it stands at their northern extremity and displays many of the characteristics of the rockier peaks to the north. It is believed that the mountain takes its name from the settlement of Achallader at the foot of the northern slopes and translates from the Gaelic as “Field of hard water” which referred to the area around Loch Tulla which often flooded and froze in the past. Achallader is a farm today but it was formally the site of Achallader Castle one of Campbell of Glenorchy’s seven strongholds, the remains of which can still be seen next to the farmhouse. However, Hamish Brown and others give the hill's translated name as “Hill of the Mower”.