27:
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intermittent track. The snow was in capital walking condition, but seemingly I was the first person to go up the pass. At the watershed the depth of the snow must have been great, for a notable ridge of rocks crossing the pass just at the watershed was buried, and the large cairns in its neighbourhood were invisible. Indeed I barely found enough exposed rock to serve as a dry seat, while I took a rest, a lunch, and a look at the
Deeside view
411:...Tailor's Stone, named after certain tailors who for a wager attempted to dance, during the hours of a winter day, at the "three Dells" - the Dell of Abernethy, the Dell of Rothiemurchus and Dalmore in Mar. They danced at Abernethy and at Rothiemurchus and had crossed the most exposed miles of the Lairig when a blizzard overtook them in Glen Dee, and they succumbed as they vainly sought shelter behind the stone that is their memorial
590:
19:
622:
125:
forbidding the Lairig often is in wild weather ... But authorities on place-names reject these suggestions, and are obliged to leave the name Ghru a mystery, although it seems to contain the same root as the Allt Dhru burn which drains it to the north. MacBain a distinguished philologist, writes that the name is "probably the Pass of Druie river, from root
124:
As a place-name Lairig Ghru remains an enigma. Lairig means hill pass, and map-makers of the nineteenth century solved the problem to their own satisfaction by substituting for Ghru the word
Ghruamach, for which they had apparently not the slightest authority. Ghruamach means forbidding or surly, and
612:
on 21 December 1954. The refuge was located near the cross-roads where the tracks from Sron na
Lairige and the Chalamain Gap cross the Lairig Ghru. Like many other man-made shelters in the mountains of Scotland that were very accessible from public roads, it was demolished and removed in about 1991.
279:
On the 17th I went up the Lairig Ghru as far as the watershed. Here I reached snow at the 1750 contour, and found it much greater in quantity than I have previously seen it. After the first half-mile I found it unbroken, except for a narrow strip along the edge of the ridge usually occupied by the
262:
In the days before railways it was much used as a means of intercommunication, particularly for the driving of cattle from all the
Highlands around to the great southern "trysts" or fairs ; but now the pass is seldom traversed except by gillies and foresters, or by pedestrians ambitious to add
182:
The natural barrier of hills which stand round the head waters of the two rivers was thus less of a protection than a source of danger, and it was over paths trodden by centuries of raiding traffic that, when more peaceful times came, the drovers of north-east
Scotland passed on their way to the
157:
Many Gaelic place names have lost their original spelling and meaning through translation into
English. The prolific and late Dundonian mountaineer, Syd Scroggie felt that the name Lairig Ghru was such a case and suggested that the Lairig Ghru was the Lairig Ruadh (Red Pass). This fits with the
465:. However the River Dee (as a named watercourse on maps) starts at the confluence of Allt a' Gharbh choirie and Allt na Lairig Ghru. At this point, near the head of Glen Dee, the main valley turns roughly west towards An Garbh Choire, and the Lairig Ghru track continues northward into the
501:
It is (1925) some thirty years since the late Duke of Fife constructed it, but as the corrie is one of the most outlying of all in the wide Forest of Mar the path has scarcely been used since the day it was made and is now difficult to follow, except near the top of the
477:
Only shown on the 1:25,000 scale maps, The Duke's Path is a made-path on the western side of the Lairig Ghru, following the course of the burn draining Coire Ruadh and leading to the bealach between
Braeriach and Sron na Lairige.
557:"March has nothing to do with the month of the year, but refers to the old use of the word meaning boundary. The summit of the Lairig Ghru marks the boundary between Deeside (Aberdeenshire) and Strathspey (Inverness-shire).
116:
meaning oozing. Any visitor to the summit of the Lairig Ghru would accept that as a possible derivation because two watercourses, one on each side of the summit, appear to "ooze" from the valley floor.
174:, and while it's not wrong to do so, arguably that over-emphasises one specific use. The Lairig Ghru has been a route used by many different people, for many different purposes as made clear in
535:
Slightly to the south of the largest pool, the burn named Allt na Lairig Ghru flows from the floor of the valley flowing south to join with the burn named Allt a' Gharbh choirie to create the
323:
defines "Lairig" as a "Hill Pass". In that case, the landscape is arguably too open for the "ends" of the Lairig's track to extend much beyond the imaginary lines drawn between the summits of
254:
Although the Lairig Ghru has long been used by travellers to get between
Strathspey and Deeside, it has also been used recreationally since at least the early twentieth century.
308:
There are many waypoints and features in the Lairig Ghru which, because of map scale, do not appear on the old 1-inch, nor 1:50,000 scale maps. Others only exist in older books
641:
a fine example of the "dry dens" or ravines which are found at various points on the
Cairngorms, and which are supposed to have formed by glacier overflows or side streams
204:
and farther south. Until approximately the 1870s, men from
Rothiemurchus annually, in the spring, cleared the track of rocks that had fallen on to it during the winter.
547:
The March Burn is a burn on the Mar side of the summit, draining the eastern-slope above it and disappearing below the rocks before it reaches the floor of the valley.
68:
Like many traditional routes, the ends of the route through the Lairig Ghru are like the ends of a frayed rope. From the south the Lairig Ghru can be approached from
797:
658:
an alternative path to this spot comes in on the left from Glen More. It leads through a rocky gap SE of Creag a' Chalamain, named Eag Coire a' Chomhlaich
933:
520:
The Lairig Ghru track winds around a series of pools on the Mar side of the summit. These are thought by many (incorrectly) to be the source of the
532:(black tarn of the Lairig). At least one of these pools is reputed to contain trout in spite of these pools having no obvious outflow, nor inflow.
339:
633:
is used as a route between the Lairig Ghru and Glen More. The name "Chalamain Gap" has been applied relatively recently to this ravine, since in
458:
923:
350:, creating the first waypoint. Soon after this coming together, the track splits again with the left-hand (roughly NW) branch leading to the
721:
316:- for example - because the authors, acquainted with local people and traditions, have described these features and recorded their names.
874:
392:. The single room has a fireplace and chimney in its northern gable, there is also an outer composting toilet facility in its own room.
178:, and was in regular use long before the height of the droving trade in the more peaceful times after the middle of the 18th century:
404:) is a large ribbed stone by the side of the Lairig Ghru track close to where the Allt Coire an t-Saighdeir joins the river.
913:
918:
449:
All the rain that falls on the slopes at either side of the southern half of the Lairig Ghru eventually drains into the
275:
An even earlier recreational mention is a report on the snow conditions in the Lairig Ghru by C. G. Cash in April 1901:
928:
486:
654:
Watson does not name the ravine "Chalamain Gap" either, but refers to it as the location of the Sinclair Hut:
389:
293:
This snow report by C. G. Cash implies both his own and his readers' familiarity with the Lairig Ghru.
712:
238:
is about 43 km (27 mi), though many walkers cut the walk short by starting or finishing at
745:
536:
521:
450:
355:
42:
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explains that the Pools of Dee are an invention rather than a pure Anglicisation of the old name
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732:
112:, with the local pronunciation "Laarig Groo". He suggests the "probable" derivation as from
377:
347:
328:
167:
154:
is probably related to the water flowing from the floor of the valley close to the summit.
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85:
22:
The northern entrance to the Lairig Ghru, with Lurcher's Crag (left) and Braeriach (right)
8:
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343:
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171:
62:
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was built in 1957 by members of the Edinburgh University OTC as a memorial to Dr
166:
Historically the Lairig Ghru has been used simply as a route between Deeside and
342:. These two routes come together soon after crossing the imaginary line between
120:
However, Gordon is much less certain about the derivation of the name, writing:
782:
702:
691:
466:
376:
Corrour Bothy is a simple stone building below Coire Odhar, which lies between
351:
907:
889:
876:
429:
371:
359:
50:
577:
Watson gives the summit height as about 835 metres (2,740 ft), and the
497:
the author describes using this path on an ascent of Braeriach, continuing:
437:
158:
original name of the mountain range, "Am Monadh Ruadh" (The Red Mountains).
593:
Plaque now attached to a rock marking the site of the Sinclair Memorial Hut
454:
433:
From Corrour, roughly N towards the head of Glen Dee and the hanging valley
77:
331:
at the southern end, and Carn Eilrig and Castle Hill at the northern end.
301:
239:
224:
319:
There is no objective measure of where the ends of the Lairig Ghru are.
609:
381:
243:
54:
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From the south, the two main approaches to the Lairig Ghru follow the
462:
442:
220:
216:
81:
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335:
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white spray to the Lairig from the northern spur of Ben Mac Dhui.
481:
During the nineteenth century, what was then the Mar Estate (see
235:
201:
69:
630:
621:
242:. The 8 km (5.0 mi) from there to Braemar is along a
18:
637:
the author does not name the gap, but describes it - writing:
565:(the burn of the boundary), giving the local pronunciation as
196:
The Lairig Ghru was used as a droving-route as late as 1873 -
598:
385:
605:
84:. From the north the Lairig Ghru can be approached from
798:
Places, place names, and structures on Mar Lodge Estate
407:
Gordon describes how this stone got its name, writing:
828:"Làirig Dhrù : A place name guide by Joe Dorward"
384:
on the western side of the river. It is now used as a
61:. The route and mountain pass partially lies on the
108:Watson gives the place name "Làirig Dhrù", meaning
362:and the mountains to the west of the Lairig Ghru.
706:, Adam & Charles Black, 4 Soho Square, London
286:C. G. Cash - Cairngorm Club Journal 17, July 1901
905:
786:. Edinburgh: The Scottish Mountaineering Trust.
142:The weight of suggestion is - therefore - that
775:, Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh, Scotland.
695:. Edinburgh: The Scottish Mountaineering Club.
584:
722:"Place-Names of the Cairngorms National Park"
296:
764:Highways and Byways in the Central Highlands
679:{The Ravine of the Corrie of the Assembly}.
485:) was a private hunting estate owned by the
766:, MacMillan & Co. Ltd, London, England.
934:Places and place names on Mar Lodge Estate
688:
445:, roughly SW towards the head of Glen Dee
263:the feat of "doing" it to their "record".
207:Modern road traffic now travels over the
840:
757:. London, England.: Cassell and Company.
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620:
588:
436:
428:
25:
17:
770:
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727:. Cairngorms National Park Authority.
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716:, Number 17, Cairngorm Club, Aberdeen
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924:Transport in Highland (council area)
88:through the Chalamain Gap, and from
581:gives a spot-height of 2,733 feet.
249:
13:
472:
400:Literally "stone of the tailors" (
300:
14:
960:
803:
223:, and the Lairig Ghru is left to
183:trysts and their lawful occasions
616:
493:in 1889, and dying in 1912). In
365:
755:The Cairngorm Hills Of Scotland
720:Diack, Dr. Alison M.G. (2006).
515:
170:. It is often referred to as a
129:, flow, as in Gaulish Druentia"
860:
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1:
551:describes it as falling in a
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579:Cairngorm Tourist Map (1975)
469:as shown in the photograph.
424:
390:Mountain Bothies Association
7:
914:Mountain passes of Scotland
791:
773:The Drove Roads Of Scotland
585:Angus Sinclair Memorial Hut
10:
965:
919:Transport in Aberdeenshire
682:
369:
297:Waypoints (from the south)
161:
710:Cash, C. G. (July 1901),
700:Anderson, Robert (1911),
689:Alexander, Henry (1928).
625:View of The Chalamain Gap
572:
677:Eag Coire na Comhdhalack
150:(of something) and that
76:, or Glen Dee, and from
929:Badenoch and Strathspey
103:
762:Gordon, Seton (1948),
753:Gordon, Seton (1925).
740:Cite journal requires
713:Cairngorm Club Journal
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603:William Angus Sinclair
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561:gives the old name of
530:Lochan Dubh na Lairige
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457:of the River Dee, the
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388:and maintained by the
354:footbridge across the
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843:The Cairngorms Unseen
780:Watson, Adam (1975).
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453:, and the "official"
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110:pass of Dhru or Druie
29:
21:
890:57.09083°N 3.69389°W
771:Haldane, A. (1952),
629:This boulder-strewn
230:The full route from
94:Rothiemurchus Forest
886: /
100:above Allt Drùidh.
895:57.09083; -3.69389
675:gives the name as
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595:
447:
435:
396:Clach nan Taillear
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209:Pass of Drumochter
35:
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378:The Devil's Point
348:The Devil's Point
329:The Devil's Point
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483:Mar Lodge Estate
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250:Recreational use
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63:Mar Lodge Estate
49:) is one of the
32:Lairig an Laoigh
30:Lairig Ghru and
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473:The Duke's Path
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269:Anderson (1911)
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51:mountain passes
43:Scottish Gaelic
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939:Marr, Scotland
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841:Syd Scroggie.
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804:External links
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783:The Cairngorms
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692:The Cairngorms
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608:, who died on
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563:Allt na Criche
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467:hanging valley
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370:Main article:
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352:Cairngorm Club
340:Glen Dee Route
336:Glen Lui Route
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198:Haldane (1952)
189:Haldane (1952)
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372:Corrour Bothy
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360:Corrour Bothy
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344:Carn a' Mhaim
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148:the hill pass
146:is certainly
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135:Gordon (1948)
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733:cite journal
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459:Wells of Dee
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92:through the
78:Blair Atholl
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53:through the
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893: /
288:(p 313-314)
240:Linn of Dee
144:Lairig Ghru
47:Làirig Dhrù
39:Lairig Ghru
944:Cairngorms
908:Categories
610:Cairn Gorm
543:March Burn
419:(page 316)
382:Cairn Toul
172:drove road
168:Strathspey
98:Crossroads
55:Cairngorms
881:3°41′38″W
878:57°5′27″N
537:River Dee
522:River Dee
489:(created
463:Braeriach
451:River Dee
443:Braeriach
425:River Dee
356:River Dee
217:The Lecht
152:something
82:Glen Tilt
792:See also
661:—
644:—
539:proper.
505:—
414:—
358:towards
283:—
266:—
258:writes:
232:Aviemore
211:via the
186:—
132:—
114:Drùdhadh
90:Aviemore
86:Glenmore
80:through
74:Glen Lui
72:through
59:Scotland
703:Deeside
683:Sources
649:(p 121)
510:(p 108)
338:or the
236:Braemar
225:walkers
219:on the
202:Braemar
162:History
70:Braemar
666:(p129)
631:ravine
573:Summit
567:Creech
502:corrie
455:source
321:Gordon
246:road.
244:tarmac
191:(p115)
137:(p308)
725:(PDF)
599:bothy
441:From
200:- to
746:help
606:FRSE
491:Duke
380:and
346:and
327:and
221:A939
104:Name
37:The
569:."
234:to
215:or
127:dru
57:of
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735:}}
731:{{
597:A
524:.
312:,
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213:A9
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