Cairn Gorm

(Gaelic: An Càrn Gorm, meaning Blue or Green Hill) overlooks 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 are properly known as Am Monadh Ruadh (the Red Hills) rather than the Cairngorms.

Cairn Gorm is the most prominent of the Cairngorm mountains but is not the highest. In 1960 a ski resort was developed on Cairn Gorm fand by the 1980s, thousands of skiers were using the resort on busy weekends.

We took the easy route up by Funicular railway. It was a glorious day and although we had prepared for the cold, the sun was shining and even near the summit it was a day for tee shirts and jumpers.

Taken from the viewing platform beneath the summit you can see Aviemore in the distance beyond Loch Morlich.