GRAMPIAN MOUNTAINS (SCOTLAND)

The 'Grampian Mountains' or 'Grampians' (''Am Monadh'' in Gaelic) are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland.
The Grampians extend southwest to northeast between the Highland Boundary Fault and ''Gleann Mòr'' (the Great Glen), occupying almost half of the land-area of Scotland. This includes the Cairngorms and the Lochaber hills. The range includes Ben Nevis (the highest point in the British Isles at 1,344 metres above sea level) and Ben Macdui (the second highest at 1,309 metres).
The mountains are composed of granite, gneiss, marble, schists and quartzite. The other major mountain ranges in Scotland are the Northwest Highlands and the Southern Uplands.
Several rivers rise in the Grampians - the Tay, the Spey, the Don, the Dee and the Esk. The area is minimally populated other than in a few areas such as Aviemore, a winter holiday and snow-sporting centre.

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History and name

See also

History and name

The name ''Grampians'' is believed to have first been applied to the mountain range in 1520 by the Scottish historian Hector Boece, a misread adaptation of the name ''Mons Graupius'', recorded by the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus as the site of the defeat of the native Caledonians by Gnaeus Julius Agricola ''circa'' 83 AD. The actual location of ''Mons Graupius'', literally 'the Graupian Mountain' (the element 'Graupian' is of unknown significance), is a matter of dispute among historians, though most favour a location north of the massif now called 'the Grampians'.
Prior to this the area was known as the Mounths, a name still held by a number of geographical features. Up until the 19th century, they were generally considered to be more than one range. This view is still held by many today, and they have no single name in the Scottish Gaelic language or Doric dialect of the Lowland Scots. In both languages, a number of names are used. Grampian Region was translated into Scots Gaelic as "Roinn a' Mhonaidh".
A noteworthy historic route connecting Aberdeen to southern coastal points was called the Causey Mounth, an elevated stonework structure in many locations because of the crossing of numerous bogs, most notably the Portlethen Moss. This route played numerous roles in the Covenanters history and Bishops' Wars since it formed the only passable and strategic connection from Dunnottar Castle to Muchalls Castle to the Bridge of Dee.

See also

★ MacGillonie