Scottish Hill Names

The Gaelic language has the most influence on Scottish hill names, although the Viking's Norse language also puts it's mark on the islands and coastal mountains. The hill colours, shape, function, and associated legends translate on to the map of Scotland through their names. The subtlety of, for example, "sgurr" as distinct from "beinn", "meall", "carn", "stob", "aonachs", "mullachs", "binneins", in descriptions of mountains is peculiar to Scotland, where there are 70 variations covering different aspects of the hills. The names are a legacy of the past language and culture of generations of Scots passed down mainly by word of mouth. Some examples of well-known mountain name meanings;

Ben Nevis - venomous mountain Ben Macdui - mountain of the black pig Braeriach - brindled slope Cairntoul - peak of the barn roof CairnGorm - blue mountain Aonach Beag - small ridged mountain Carn Mor Dearg - big red cairn Aonach Mor - big ridged mountain Ben Lawers - noisy mountain Beinn a Bhuird - board topped mountain Carn Eige - notched mountain Beinn Mheadhoin - middle mountain Mam Sodhail - round shaped barn Stob Choire Claurigh - stub-topped hill above a noisy corrie Ben More - big mountain Ben Avon - hill of the river Stob Binnien - anvil mountain

Beinn Bhrotain - hill of the mastiff Lochnagar - noisy loch Derry Cairngorm - wooded blue hill Aonach Dubh - dark ridge Gearr Aonach - short ridge Castail Abhail - castle of the fork Meall Chean Dearg - bald red head Meall Garbh - rough hill Stac Pollaidh - rocky outcrop at the pool Stob Gabhar - goat peak Ben Venue - small mountain An Teallach - the forge Suilven - the pillar Slioch - the spear Quinag - milking pail Ben Cruachan - conical hill Baosbheinn - wizards peak Beinn Alligin - jewelled mountain