Gairbeinn Terrain Block

Rising as a massive, broad-shouldered massif above the high waters of the Corrieyairack Pass, Gairbeinn is a mountain of profound solitude and historic scale. Occupying a strategic position at the head of the Spey valley, it is a quintessential peak of the Monadhliath—the 'Grey Hills'—characterized by its vast, rolling expanses of weathered peat, hardy sub-arctic flora, and shattered schist. While it lack the sharp precipices of the western ranges, its summit provides what many consider the most isolation and comprehensive view of the high Cairngorm interior and the distant, dramatic peaks of Ben Alder. It is a place of endless horizons and shifting light, standing as a sentinel over the ancient, military roads that once connected the strategic forts of the Great Glen.

About Gairbeinn

The name Gairbeinn—potentially meaning the 'Short Hill' or 'Little Peak'—is a link to the ancient ecclesiastical and military history of the Corrieyairack. Historically, it was a focal point for the construction of General Wade's military roads in the 1730s, its ridges serving as lookouts for the engineers and soldiers who transformed the highland map. Geologically, it is composed of metamorphic Dalradian schist, its form smoothed by the massive ice sheets that once covered the entire central landscape. Today, it remains a peak for the connoisseur, requiring a long approach via the historic pass that ensures its summit remains a place of profound highland silence and historical weight.

Landscape features

• Monadhliath grey hill character
• Corrieyairack Pass sentinel
• Wade's Military Road history
• Panoramic views over the Spey
• Metamorphic Dalradian schist

Elevation: 896 metres.

Your Gairbeinn Terrain Block

Choose the area, shape, wood and lettering in the configurator. Each block is 125 mm across, carved in hardwood and set on natural slate.

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