Creag na Criche

Hill, Mountain in Perthshire

Scotland

Creag na Criche

Moorland near Little Glenshee Moorland east of Little Glenshee, viewed from the hillside track to the north-west, with the paps of the Lomonds visible on the horizon to the left. — Moorland near Little Glenshee Credit: Scott Cormie

Creag na Criche is a prominent hill located in Perthshire, Scotland. It is situated approximately 5 miles northeast of the town of Crieff and rises to a height of 620 meters (2,034 feet) above sea level. The hill is part of the Grampian Mountains, which stretch across the central and northeastern regions of Scotland.

Creag na Criche boasts breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the picturesque Strathearn Valley to the south and the impressive peaks of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin to the northwest. Its strategic position on the edge of the Highlands makes it a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

The hill is predominantly covered in heather and scattered with granite rocks, giving it a rugged and wild appearance. The terrain is relatively steep in some areas, making it a moderate challenge for walkers. However, the reward of reaching the summit is well worth the effort, as it offers stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Creag na Criche is a haven for wildlife, with various species of birds, including golden eagles and peregrine falcons, frequently spotted in the area. The hill is also home to red deer, mountain hares, and ptarmigans, adding to its natural beauty and ecological significance.

With its majestic beauty and diverse ecosystem, Creag na Criche is a captivating destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to immerse themselves in the stunning landscapes of Perthshire.

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Creag na Criche Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 56.496921/-3.6485958 or Grid Reference NN9835. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Moorland near Little Glenshee

Moorland east of Little Glenshee, viewed from the hillside track to the north-west, with the paps of the Lomonds visible on the horizon to the left.

Scott Cormie

Crags of Creag na Criche

Eastern crags on Creag na Criche viewed from the north-east.

Scott Cormie

Moorland track

Track heading uphill through the heather moorland north of Little Glenshee.

Scott Cormie

Heathery hillside

Looking south-east down the heather hillside south of The D.

Scott Cormie

Road from Little Glenshee

Minor road heading eastwards from Little Glenshee, with Formal Hill in the background.

Scott Cormie

Little Glenshee Ford

The ford at Little Glenshee viewed from the west.

Scott Cormie

Road approaching Little Glenshee

The road on the downhill approach to the ford at Little Glenshee.

Scott Cormie

Track in Little Glenshee

A track between Little Glenshee and Strathbraan.

Alan O'Dowd

Little Glenshee

The track up the glen from Little Glenshee Farm is flanked by luxuriant green young bracken, and the paler green of ferns. Findowie Hill is on the left.

Anne Burgess

A Curious Structure

What appears to be a cairn is actually a circle of stones with ferns growing inside as well and next to it. The linear puddle is the deeply rutted track, full of water after recent wet weather. Near top right is part of the spoil heap of the largest of the old slate quarries on the south-west side of the glen.

Anne Burgess

Dry Stane Dyke

The dyker has been very clever in his use of pieces of the local rock, which is folded to various extents in this area.

Anne Burgess

Folded Rocks

This outcrop was what we had come to see. It contains a series of folds, clearly visible from a short distance away. This is part of the re-folded downbend of the Tay Nappe, which marks the geological boundary between the Highlands and the Lowlands. NN9734 : A Fold and NN9734 : Another Fold are closer views of two of the folds.

Anne Burgess

A Fold

This is part of the outcrop in NN9734 : Folded Rocks, near the lower, right-hand end. It shows a superb example of spaced cleavage, which is the linear fabric across the fold. This has developed in the rock during metamorphosis under heat and pressure, which has caused the minerals in the rock to realign themselves roughly at right angles to the principal stress. The fold is emphasised by the narrow band of darker material. NN9734 : In the Hinge of a Fold shows the fine detail in the hinge of the fold, where the small ferns are growing in the dark band.

Anne Burgess

In the Hinge of a Fold

This is the hinge of the fold in NN9734 : A Fold. The minerals in the hinge have separated under pressure into more and less resistant layers, which have themselves been folded to produce the crinkled effect. This has then been differentially eroded after exposure so that some of the bands of minerals stand out proud of the rest. Pound coin for scale.

Anne Burgess

Another Fold

This is another of the folds in NN9734 : Folded Rocks. The subvertical lines are the bedding surfaces of the original sedimentary rocks which were metamorphosed to form the outcrop; they would originally have been horizontal. In fact close examination of the detailed structure, too fine to see in a photograph, shows that what were the top surfaces of the original beds are on the left. In other words, these rocks have been tilted beyond the vertical and are now inverted.

Anne Burgess