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A' Chòinneach

Hill, Mountain in Inverness-shire

Scotland

A' Chòinneach

Rocky outcrop on Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Rocky outcrop on Cnap Coire na Spreidhe Credit: David Brown

A' Chòinneach is a prominent hill located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. Standing at an impressive height of 712 meters (2,336 feet), it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. The hill is part of the Monadhliath Mountains range, which stretches across Highland and Moray.

A' Chòinneach is characterized by its rugged and rocky terrain, with steep slopes and craggy cliffs that challenge the most experienced hikers and mountaineers. The summit is a distinctive feature, marked by a large cairn that acts as a navigational aid for those venturing through the area.

The hill is encompassed by diverse vegetation, including heather, grasses, and scattered patches of woodland. This rich flora provides a habitat for various wildlife species, such as red deer, mountain hares, and golden eagles, making A' Chòinneach an attractive destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers.

Due to its location, A' Chòinneach is subject to the unpredictable Scottish weather. It is not uncommon to experience sudden changes in conditions, including strong winds, heavy rainfall, and mist. Therefore, proper equipment and preparation are essential for anyone planning to explore this mountain.

The surrounding area offers several walking trails and routes, catering to different levels of difficulty and duration. These paths provide opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Scottish Highlands while enjoying the tranquility and serenity that A' Chòinneach has to offer.

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A' Chòinneach Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.124349/-3.6002486 or Grid Reference NJ0304. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Rocky outcrop on Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Rocky outcrop on Cnap Coire na Spreidhe
Bynack More
Bynack More
Rounded boulders at summit area of Bynack More Scattered snow remnants among the boulders and along the rounded ridge to the south of the mountain's summit. There's a cloud inversion in place filling the valley beyond with mist and farther away, the mountains Beinn Mheadhoin (left), and Ben Macdui.
Rounded boulders at summit area of Bynack More
Scattered snow remnants among the boulders and along the rounded ridge to the south of the mountain's summit. There's a cloud inversion in place filling the valley beyond with mist and farther away, the mountains Beinn Mheadhoin (left), and Ben Macdui.
Rounded boulders at summit area of Bynack More - 2 Granite boulders at the summit area of Bynack More with the mist of a cloud inversion filling the void below. Beyond the mist is Cairn Gorm, scattered with snow remnants.
Rounded boulders at summit area of Bynack More - 2
Granite boulders at the summit area of Bynack More with the mist of a cloud inversion filling the void below. Beyond the mist is Cairn Gorm, scattered with snow remnants.
Mountain walker at Little Barns of Bynack A pause on the way to the summit of Bynack More from one of the mountains remarkable rock outcrops. The summit is ahead in the image, to the north.
Mountain walker at Little Barns of Bynack
A pause on the way to the summit of Bynack More from one of the mountains remarkable rock outcrops. The summit is ahead in the image, to the north.
Rocks on south-west shoulder of A' Chòinneach The rough rockiness of the level stretch of the south-west ridge of A' Chòinneach at around 970 metres. A' Chòinneach is a subsidiary top of Bynack More. There's a temperature inversion in the glen to the west beyond which are the peaks, Cairn Gorm and Cnap Coire na Spreidhe.
Rocks on south-west shoulder of A' Chòinneach
The rough rockiness of the level stretch of the south-west ridge of A' Chòinneach at around 970 metres. A' Chòinneach is a subsidiary top of Bynack More. There's a temperature inversion in the glen to the west beyond which are the peaks, Cairn Gorm and Cnap Coire na Spreidhe.
South ridge of Bynack More The broad south ridge of the mountain with the Little Barns of Bynack prominent against the mist of a splendid temperature inversion. Beyond the mist and rising above it are Beinn a' Chaorainn Beag and Beinn a' Chaorainn.
South ridge of Bynack More
The broad south ridge of the mountain with the Little Barns of Bynack prominent against the mist of a splendid temperature inversion. Beyond the mist and rising above it are Beinn a' Chaorainn Beag and Beinn a' Chaorainn.
Col between A' Chòinneach and Bynack More A mountain walker climbing for A' Chòinneach with the col between it and Bynack More partly obscured by mist. The Little Barns of Bynack are seen in the distance on the south ridge of Bynack More.
Col between A' Chòinneach and Bynack More
A mountain walker climbing for A' Chòinneach with the col between it and Bynack More partly obscured by mist. The Little Barns of Bynack are seen in the distance on the south ridge of Bynack More.
Barns of Bynack with temperature inversion The remarkable rocks known as the Barns of Bynack protrude from the grassy slope on the eastern side of the south ridge of Bynack More: the view point is the Little Barns of Bynack which sit astride the ridge. Ben Avon with its similar rock tors can be seen in the distance beyond the sea of mist.
Barns of Bynack with temperature inversion
The remarkable rocks known as the Barns of Bynack protrude from the grassy slope on the eastern side of the south ridge of Bynack More: the view point is the Little Barns of Bynack which sit astride the ridge. Ben Avon with its similar rock tors can be seen in the distance beyond the sea of mist.
Barns of Bynack on Bynack More Viewed from summit of Beinn a' Chaorainn Bheag some 4 km away. The south west slopes of Creag Mhòr in the foreground with Loch Dagrum just visible. The mountain was identified for me by Richard Webb via 'Speculative Upload' he says the giveaway is the array of big tors, i.e. the barns. Nigel Brown pointed out Loch Dagrum.
Barns of Bynack on Bynack More
Viewed from summit of Beinn a' Chaorainn Bheag some 4 km away. The south west slopes of Creag Mhòr in the foreground with Loch Dagrum just visible. The mountain was identified for me by Richard Webb via 'Speculative Upload' he says the giveaway is the array of big tors, i.e. the barns. Nigel Brown pointed out Loch Dagrum.
Plateau south west of A' Chòinneach This almost level area is encountered high up on the south west ridge of the mountain. In the distance the crags of Carn Etchachan can be seen, with Ben Macdui rising behind.
Plateau south west of A' Chòinneach
This almost level area is encountered high up on the south west ridge of the mountain. In the distance the crags of Carn Etchachan can be seen, with Ben Macdui rising behind.
View south from Bynack More Taken on the south ridge near the Little Barns of Bynack, looking towards the Lairig an Laoigh, with Beinn a' Chaorainn on the left and Beinn Mheadhoin on the right.
View south from Bynack More
Taken on the south ridge near the Little Barns of Bynack, looking towards the Lairig an Laoigh, with Beinn a' Chaorainn on the left and Beinn Mheadhoin on the right.
Looking North down Strath Nethy Looking down Strath Nethy from the cliffs below point 1028. Ben Rinnes can be seen on the skyline.
Looking North down Strath Nethy
Looking down Strath Nethy from the cliffs below point 1028. Ben Rinnes can be seen on the skyline.
Patterned ground on A'Choinneach This patterning is caused by wind and frost weakening and removing vegetation, leaving granite gravel patches. The vegetation is mostly crowberry (mat-forming), three-leaved rush (turning brown as it's past summer) and the light green racomitrium moss round the stones on the right. It's all easily damaged by further trampling, grazing,etc, but the prognosis is fair. This used to be a Munro summit, but must receive fewer visits now it's been relieved of that responsibility.
Patterned ground on A'Choinneach
This patterning is caused by wind and frost weakening and removing vegetation, leaving granite gravel patches. The vegetation is mostly crowberry (mat-forming), three-leaved rush (turning brown as it's past summer) and the light green racomitrium moss round the stones on the right. It's all easily damaged by further trampling, grazing,etc, but the prognosis is fair. This used to be a Munro summit, but must receive fewer visits now it's been relieved of that responsibility.
Upper slopes of Strath Nethy The best way to see Strath Nethy is from its upper slopes. I know, having walked along its lower slopes! The gentle gradients of the plateau give way first to this relic of a shallow valley, which was probably water-worn, then suddenly to the steep glacially-eroded rock basin of the glen itself. The close proximity of these different erosion types in the Cairngorms have given rise to a proposal from the UK governemnt that it be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Upper slopes of Strath Nethy
The best way to see Strath Nethy is from its upper slopes. I know, having walked along its lower slopes! The gentle gradients of the plateau give way first to this relic of a shallow valley, which was probably water-worn, then suddenly to the steep glacially-eroded rock basin of the glen itself. The close proximity of these different erosion types in the Cairngorms have given rise to a proposal from the UK governemnt that it be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Upper Strath Nethy Strath Nethy is a glacially enlarged valley based on a former water-cut valley, but subsequently its upper end was over-run by active ice moving across it at about 45 degrees to its course. The headwaters of the Nethy have therefore been captured by the Avon, visible beyond as Loch Avon. Some divergent ice would still have funnelled down Strath Nethy, and rocks would have fallen on it from the crags opposite, then to be deposited in blocky moraines in the valley floor. The moraines and the generally poor drainage (visible in the middle distance) make this the roughest path in the Cairngorms, in my opinion. The mountain in the centre is Cairn Gorm and on the far skyline is Ben Macdui, North top.
Upper Strath Nethy
Strath Nethy is a glacially enlarged valley based on a former water-cut valley, but subsequently its upper end was over-run by active ice moving across it at about 45 degrees to its course. The headwaters of the Nethy have therefore been captured by the Avon, visible beyond as Loch Avon. Some divergent ice would still have funnelled down Strath Nethy, and rocks would have fallen on it from the crags opposite, then to be deposited in blocky moraines in the valley floor. The moraines and the generally poor drainage (visible in the middle distance) make this the roughest path in the Cairngorms, in my opinion. The mountain in the centre is Cairn Gorm and on the far skyline is Ben Macdui, North top.
Gullies in Coire Dheirg These are some of the most eroded slopes of Bynack More. This kind of erosion sometimes points to over-grazing, which may have been historically the case, but deer numbers have been reduced and there are no sheep or goats. So this could be a relic feature. Once this kind of thing gets going, it takes a long time to repair, especially with more heavy summer rainfall events. It's not a new feature - Coire Dheirg means red corrie, so it was clearly known to those who named the hills.
Gullies in Coire Dheirg
These are some of the most eroded slopes of Bynack More. This kind of erosion sometimes points to over-grazing, which may have been historically the case, but deer numbers have been reduced and there are no sheep or goats. So this could be a relic feature. Once this kind of thing gets going, it takes a long time to repair, especially with more heavy summer rainfall events. It's not a new feature - Coire Dheirg means red corrie, so it was clearly known to those who named the hills.
Moraines in Strath Nethy Moraines overlain with a lot of rock that has fallen from the cliffs above. This seems very low down for a lateral moraine, I think they fell across snow banks once the last glacier had melted away. When the glacier was no longer present to support the glen side, it would have been very prone to collapse.
Moraines in Strath Nethy
Moraines overlain with a lot of rock that has fallen from the cliffs above. This seems very low down for a lateral moraine, I think they fell across snow banks once the last glacier had melted away. When the glacier was no longer present to support the glen side, it would have been very prone to collapse.
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A' Chòinneach is located at Grid Ref: NJ0304 (Lat: 57.124349, Lng: -3.6002486)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///oxidation.events.channel. Near Aviemore, Highland

Nearby Locations

A' Chòinneach

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.124349,-3.6002486
A'Choinneach
Ele: 1017
Natural: peak
Source: NPE
Source Name: NPE
Lat/Long: 57.1236812/-3.6004925
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Geal Charn Aberdeenshire
Bught Knowe Dumfriesshire

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