Cairn Gorm

Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm from across Coire an t-Sneachda
Highest point
Elevation	1,245 m (4,085 ft)
Prominence	145 m (476 ft)
Parent peak	Ben Macdui
Listing	Munro
Naming
Translation	Blue or Green cairn (Gaelic)
Pronunciation	Scottish Gaelic: [əŋ ˈkʰaːrˠŋ ˈkɔɾɔm]
Geography
Location	Cairngorms, Scotland
OS grid	NJ005040
Topo map	OS Landranger 36
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Cairngorm Mountain
Cairngorm Mountain base station in early 2008
Location	Carn Gorm, Aviemore Highland, Scotland United Kingdom
Nearest city	Inverness - 40 mi. (65 km)
Vertical	500 m
Top elevation	1145 m
Base elevation	645 m Base Station
Runs	35 - 11 easier - 10 intermediate - 11 difficult - 3 very difficult
Lift system	14 - 1 railway (120 person) - 2 doubles (mothballed) - 11 surface
Snowmaking	4 TechnoAlpin T40, 1 TechnoAlpin TF10
Night skiing	occasional
Website	CairnGorm Mountain

Cairn Gorm (Cairngorm) (Gaelic: An Càrn Gorm, meaning Blue or Green Hill) is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore. At 1245 metres (4084 ft) it is the sixth-highest mountain in the United Kingdom. It has given its name to the whole range, although these hills were historically known as Am Monadh Ruadh (the Red Hills) rather than the Cairngorms. Cairn Gorm is the most prominent of the Cairngorm mountains in the view from Aviemore, but it is not the highest.

600 ha of the north-western slopes of the mountain have been developed since 1960 for downhill skiing, in Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste. In 2001 a funicular railway was constructed to provide access through Coire Cas to the Ptarmigan building at 1087m on Cairn Gorm.

The corrie south of Coire Cas, Coire an t-Sneachda, is separated from the skiing area by a ridge known as Fiacaill a' Choire Chais. The southern side of Cairn Gorm overlooks the remote loch known as Loch Avon (pronounced Loch A'an).

There is an automated weather station (AWS) controlled by Heriot-Watt University on the summit of the mountain providing temperature and wind speed data. There is also a separate AWS run by the Met Office (synop code 03065).

The ascent of Cairn Gorm is technically straightforward via the Northern slopes, but weather conditions can make it impossible during high winds and falling or blowing snow (often referred to as blizzard conditions). The Windy Ridge path on Sròn an Aonaich lying to the northeast of Coire Cas is a steep and direct route, and is generally recommended by local Rangers, guides and guidebooks. Another route to the summit is the access road up the centre of Coire Cas, however this route is a track used by the railway operator's vehicles, and gives an indirect route with several steep sections. It is not recommended as an ascent route, especially during the skiing season, though it gives good views of the Cairngorm Mountain Railway in its lower sections. Also in Coire Cas, Fiacaill a' Choire Chais offers a good walking route to Cairn Gorm and the adjacent plateau. A circuit of the cliff tops overlooking the Northern Corries of Cairn Gorm is highly recommended in many guide books and publications, giving one of the finest views in Scotland. Walkers are advised to consult the local map and call in at the Ranger Base at the car park.