Bennachie (/bɛnəˈxiː/ben-ə-HEE; Scottish Gaelic: Beinn na Cìche)[1] is a range of hills in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.[2] It has several tops, the highest of which, Oxen Craig, has a height of 528 metres (1,732 ft). Though not particularly high, compared to other peaks within Scotland, the mountain is very prominent, owing to its isolation and the relative flatness of the surrounding terrain, and dominates the skyline from several viewpoints.
The peak that stands out the most visually is Mither Tap (518 m, 1699 feet) and from its top there are good views of the county to the north and east. Most of the tops lie along an east / west ridge, with the exception of Millstone Hill (409 m) an outlier or spur which is separated from and to the south of the main ridge. Mither Tap has an Iron Agefort on its summit. Unlike with many other hilltop forts in the area, there are no signs of vitrification in the stone.[2] Bennachie is visible from a number of distant points; to the north it is visible from Longman Hill, a point considerably to the north.[3]
Some believe that the peak had religious significance to the Bronze Age people who inhabited this area. This theory is supported by the large number of standing stones in the surrounding area. The significance is believed to be connected to the profile of the hill, which is shaped like a female breast, which is reflected in the name "Mither Tap" (Mother Top) and "Bennachie" (Beinn na Ciche: 'hill of the breast'). It has been suggested as a possible site of the battle of Mons Graupius. An alternative Gaelic etymology from *Beinn a' Chath, i.e. 'hill of the battle', is perhaps a possibility.
From 1800 to 1859 common land on the east side of Bennachie was home to a community of squatters known locally as the Colony.[4][5] A small number of families led a crofting life often doing skilled work, such as dyking and quarrying, for local landowners. After 1859 the Colony dwindled as the common land was broken up and divided amongst the local estates. However, the last of the original colonists, George Esson, lived on the hill until his death in the 1930s. Visitors to Bennachie can explore the remains of the Colony and extensive work is being done on site and amongst local parish records to determine the history of the Colonists.
Mither Tap has an astronomical alignment with the nearby Pictish Fortalice of Caskieben (currently located within Keith Hall). Dr. Arthur Johnston said[6] "the hill of Benochie, a conical elevation about eight miles distant, casts its shadow over Caskieben at the periods of the equinox."
Paths and environment
The range of hills is a popular destination for walkers since it is relatively close to Aberdeen. The Gordon Way is a waymarked trail that traverses the Southern flank of Bennachie between the Visitors Centre in the East and Suie Car Park to the West. Most of the Bennachie range is owned by Forestry and Land Scotland, which maintains a network of paths on and around the hills, several car parks and a visitor centre located at the eastern foot of the range. A volunteer conservation charity, the Bailies of Bennachie, founded in 1973, helps with this work and with other environmental and archaeological activities on the hill.[7][8] There are several marked paths, including fairly easy ascents of Oxen Craig and Mither Tap that start from the centre.
See also
Macaulayite, a mineral known from only one place in the world, at the foot of Bennachie.
Bennachie from the North. Peaks are from left to right: Mither Tap, Craigshannoch, Bruntwood Tap, Oxen Craig, Watch Craig.
Oxen Craig from Mither Tap
View north from Mither Tap
Bennachie viewed from the South, with the peak of Mither Tap to the right.
View from the summit of Mither Tap
References
^G.M. Miller, BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names (Oxford UP, 1971), p. 13.
^ abWhiteley, A.W.M. (Ed.) (1976). The Book of Bennachie. The Bailies of Bennachie. ISBN0-900323-21-3. Mostly anecdotes and verse about the mountain and its surroundings.
^Michael Hogan, C. "Longman Hill", Longman Hill, 2008, Modern Antiquarian
^Fagen, J. "Echoes of the Bennachie Colonists" 2010-09-25 at the Wayback Machine, Leopard Magazine, Retrieved on 2009-08-11
^Campsie, Alison (21 October 2020). "The crofters who 'colonised' a famous Scottish hill for 100 years". Scotsman. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
^Robert Chambers, Thomas Thomson "A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, Volume 2","Arthur Johnston", published 1870
^"2013 Newsletter". Bailies of Bennachie Newsletter. 2013.
^Andonova, Denny (10 April 2021). "Rubbish views: New campaign launched to tackle litter issues on Bennachie". Press and Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bennachie.
Computer-generated virtual panoramas Oxen Craig Index
Flickr Group devoted to Bennachie photos Flickr Bennachie Group
Forestry Commission Website for Bennachie
Bailies of Bennachie a Bennachie Voluntary Conservation Society
Virtual Tour of Mither Tap
May 05, 2023
bennachie, line, ships, scottish, gaelic, beinn, cìche, range, hills, aberdeenshire, scotland, several, tops, highest, which, oxen, craig, height, metres, though, particularly, high, compared, other, peaks, within, scotland, mountain, very, prominent, owing, i. For the Ben Line ships see SS Bennachie Bennachie b ɛ n e ˈ x iː ben e HEE Scottish Gaelic Beinn na Ciche 1 is a range of hills in Aberdeenshire Scotland 2 It has several tops the highest of which Oxen Craig has a height of 528 metres 1 732 ft Though not particularly high compared to other peaks within Scotland the mountain is very prominent owing to its isolation and the relative flatness of the surrounding terrain and dominates the skyline from several viewpoints BennachieMither Tap from the southHighest pointPeakOxen CraigElevation1 732 ft 528 m Prominence1 037 ft 316 m ListingMarilynCoordinates57 17 34 N 2 33 45 W 57 29275 N 2 56244 W 57 29275 2 56244 Coordinates 57 17 34 N 2 33 45 W 57 29275 N 2 56244 W 57 29275 2 56244NamingEnglish translationHill of the breastLanguage of nameGaelicPronunciationEnglish b ɛ n ae ˈ h iː GeographyBennachieAberdeenshire ScotlandOS gridNJ662226Topo mapOS Landranger 38The peak that stands out the most visually is Mither Tap 518 m 1699 feet and from its top there are good views of the county to the north and east Most of the tops lie along an east west ridge with the exception of Millstone Hill 409 m an outlier or spur which is separated from and to the south of the main ridge Mither Tap has an Iron Age fort on its summit Unlike with many other hilltop forts in the area there are no signs of vitrification in the stone 2 Bennachie is visible from a number of distant points to the north it is visible from Longman Hill a point considerably to the north 3 Contents 1 History 2 Paths and environment 3 See also 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditSome believe that the peak had religious significance to the Bronze Age people who inhabited this area This theory is supported by the large number of standing stones in the surrounding area The significance is believed to be connected to the profile of the hill which is shaped like a female breast which is reflected in the name Mither Tap Mother Top and Bennachie Beinn na Ciche hill of the breast It has been suggested as a possible site of the battle of Mons Graupius An alternative Gaelic etymology from Beinn a Chath i e hill of the battle is perhaps a possibility From 1800 to 1859 common land on the east side of Bennachie was home to a community of squatters known locally as the Colony 4 5 A small number of families led a crofting life often doing skilled work such as dyking and quarrying for local landowners After 1859 the Colony dwindled as the common land was broken up and divided amongst the local estates However the last of the original colonists George Esson lived on the hill until his death in the 1930s Visitors to Bennachie can explore the remains of the Colony and extensive work is being done on site and amongst local parish records to determine the history of the Colonists Mither Tap has an astronomical alignment with the nearby Pictish Fortalice of Caskieben currently located within Keith Hall Dr Arthur Johnston said 6 the hill of Benochie a conical elevation about eight miles distant casts its shadow over Caskieben at the periods of the equinox Paths and environment EditThe range of hills is a popular destination for walkers since it is relatively close to Aberdeen The Gordon Way is a waymarked trail that traverses the Southern flank of Bennachie between the Visitors Centre in the East and Suie Car Park to the West Most of the Bennachie range is owned by Forestry and Land Scotland which maintains a network of paths on and around the hills several car parks and a visitor centre located at the eastern foot of the range A volunteer conservation charity the Bailies of Bennachie founded in 1973 helps with this work and with other environmental and archaeological activities on the hill 7 8 There are several marked paths including fairly easy ascents of Oxen Craig and Mither Tap that start from the centre See also EditMacaulayite a mineral known from only one place in the world at the foot of Bennachie Breast shaped hill Christian MaclaganGallery Edit Bennachie from the North Peaks are from left to right Mither Tap Craigshannoch Bruntwood Tap Oxen Craig Watch Craig Oxen Craig from Mither Tap View north from Mither Tap Bennachie viewed from the South with the peak of Mither Tap to the right View from the summit of Mither TapReferences Edit G M Miller BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names Oxford UP 1971 p 13 a b Whiteley A W M Ed 1976 The Book of Bennachie The Bailies of Bennachie ISBN 0 900323 21 3 Mostly anecdotes and verse about the mountain and its surroundings Michael Hogan C Longman Hill Longman Hill 2008 Modern Antiquarian Fagen J Echoes of the Bennachie Colonists Archived 2010 09 25 at the Wayback Machine Leopard Magazine Retrieved on 2009 08 11 Campsie Alison 21 October 2020 The crofters who colonised a famous Scottish hill for 100 years Scotsman Retrieved 30 May 2021 Robert Chambers Thomas Thomson A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen Volume 2 Arthur Johnston published 1870 2013 Newsletter Bailies of Bennachie Newsletter 2013 Andonova Denny 10 April 2021 Rubbish views New campaign launched to tackle litter issues on Bennachie Press and Journal Retrieved 30 May 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bennachie Computer generated virtual panoramas Oxen Craig Index Flickr Group devoted to Bennachie photos Flickr Bennachie Group Forestry Commission Website for Bennachie Bailies of Bennachie a Bennachie Voluntary Conservation Society Bailies of Bennachie Stuart McHardy The Goddess in the Landscape of Scotland Virtual Tour of Mither Tap Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bennachie amp oldid 1145988824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
