Ben Alder

Ben Alder stands in the remote Scottish Highlands between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean. It is the highest mountain in this wild area, rising to 1,148 metres. The summit plateau holds one of Britain’s highest bodies of standing water, Lochan a’Garbh Coire. A narrow band of pale limestone runs along the north-east corrie, contrasting with dark epidiorite rock. This small cliff and its ledges create varied microhabitats for plants and lichens. The site supports over a hundred lichen species, many rare, in about a hectare of ground. The mountain is best reached as part of a two-day expedition from Dalwhinnie or Corrour railway station. Two bothies, Culra Lodge and Ben Alder Cottage, once offered shelter to walkers. Ben Alder Cottage is said to be haunted by the ghost of a ghillie who died there. The mountain’s geology includes a narrow Kinlochlaggan Limestone band within older schists and quartzites. The limestone weathers to calcium-rich soils, while epidiorite breaks down differently, widening the range of habitats. Visitors find a high plateau with a small lochan and steep cliffs of pale limestone. The contrast between limestone and epidiorite creates striking ledges and sinkholes. The site hosts one of Britain’s richest montane lichen floras, with nationally rare species. The ghost story and links to Robert Louis Stevenson’s *Kidnapped* add human interest. The mountain’s isolation and rugged terrain make it a challenge for experienced walkers.