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Coordinates: 56°48′48″N 4°27′55″W / 56.81331°N 4.46533°W / 56.81331; -4.46533
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{short description|Mountain in Scotland}}
{{Infobox mountain
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Ben Alder
| name = Ben Alder
| other_name = {{lang|gd|'''Beinn Eallair'''}}
| photo = Ben_alder.jpg
| photo_caption = Ben Alder seen from near Culra bothy to the east
| photo = Ben Alder - geograph.org.uk - 198338.jpg
| photo_caption =
| elevation_m = 1148
| elevation_m = 1148
| elevation_ref =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/munros/ben-alder|title= walkhighlands Ben Alder |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2013 |publisher=walkhighlands.co.uk |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref>
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m = 783
| prominence_m = 783
| prominence_ref = <small>[[List of mountains of the British Isles by relative height|Ranked 40th]] in [[British Isles]]</small>
| prominence_ref = <small>[[List of mountains of the British Isles by relative height|Ranked 40th]] in [[British Isles]]</small>
| parent_peak = [[Ben Nevis]]
| parent_peak =
| range = [[Grampian Mountains]]
| listing = [[Munro]], [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]]
| listing = [[Munro]], [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]]
| translation = Hill of rock and water
| translation =
⚫
| pronunciation = {{IPA-gd|peɲ ˈjal̪ˠɪɾʲ|lang}}
| language = [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]
⚫
| pronunciation = {{IPA-gd|ˈpeɲ ˈɛlˠ̪əɾʲ|lang}}
| location = [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], Scotland
| location = [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], Scotland
| grid_ref_UK = NN496718
| grid_ref_UK = NN496718
}}
}}


'''Ben Alder''' ({{langx|gd|'''Beinn Eallair'''}})<ref name="ainmean">{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/ben-alder/ |title=Ben Alder |work=[[Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba]]: Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland}}</ref> is the highest mountain in the remote area of the [[Scottish Highlands]] between [[Loch Ericht]] and [[Glen Spean]]. It rises to {{convert|1148|m}}, making it the 25th highest [[Munro]]. The vast summit plateau is home of one of Britain's highest bodies of standing water, [[Lochan a' Garbh Coire]].
⚫
'''Ben Alder''' ([[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]: '''Beinn Eallair''') is the highest mountain in the remote area of the Scottish Highlands between [[Loch Ericht]] and [[Glen Spean]]. The vast summit plateau is home of one of Britain's highest bodies of standing water, Lochan a' Garbh Coire. It is the 25th highest [[Munro]], and due to its remote location, one of the less frequently visited. Situated 19&nbsp;km from [[Dalwhinnie]] and 15&nbsp;km from [[Corrour railway station]], it is commonly climbed in a two day expedition, usually taking in its lower neighbour, [[Beinn Bheoil]]. There are two [[bothy|bothies]] near to the mountain: Culra Lodge to the northeast and Ben Alder Cottage to the south, both potentially providing shelter for walkers in the area. Ben Alder Cottage is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a [[ghillie]] who hanged himself from the rafters.


==Climbing==
If a mountain bicycle is used on, or permission is obtained to drive on the track along the north west shore of Loch Ericht, Ben Alder is one of six Munros that a fit climber may be able to summit on a single late spring or early summer day.
⚫
Sitting 19&nbsp;km from [[Dalwhinnie]] and 15&nbsp;km from [[Corrour railway station]], it is commonly climbed in a two-day expedition, usually taking in its lower neighbour, [[Beinn Bheoil]]. There are two [[bothy|bothies]] near the mountain: Culra Lodge (closed due to asbestos contamination) to the northeast and Ben Alder Cottage to the south, both potentially providing shelter for walkers in the area. Ben Alder Cottage is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a [[Ghillie Dhu|ghillie]] who hanged himself from the rafters.{{cn|date=September 2022}}


== The "Man with no Name" ==
== The "Man with no Name" ==


A man's body was found near the top of Ben Alder in June 1996, seated at the edge of a cliff face, overlooking a lochan, his heart pierced by an old-fashioned lead ball bullet. All the labels had been cut from his clothing. Forms of identification such as credit cards were missing. He had a replica Remington .44, unsuitable slip-on shoes, an unnecessary three 1.5-litre bottles of water in his rucksack and £21 in cash.
A man's body was found near the top of Ben Alder in June 1996, at the edge of a cliff face, overlooking a lochan, his heart pierced by an old-fashioned lead ball bullet. All the labels had been cut from his clothing. Forms of identification such as credit cards were missing. He had a replica Remington .44, unsuitable slip-on shoes, three 1.5-litre bottles of water in his rucksack and £21 in cash.


Although the police later ascertained that his clothing came mostly from French supermarkets, it was not until November 1997, following a cranio-facial reconstruction of the dead man's face, that a friend of the family wondered if the man might be Emmanuel Caillet, from south Paris, France. Last seen by his parents on 14 August 1995, it was established that Emmanuel had crossed the Channel the next day. He then sold his car for £350, less than its value. Two days later he stayed one night in the Stakis-Ingram Hotel, [[Glasgow]], paying with his Visa card. His identity was duly confirmed.
Although the police later ascertained that his clothing came mostly from French supermarkets, it was not until November 1997, following a cranio-facial reconstruction of the dead man's face, that a friend of the family wondered if the man might be Emmanuel Caillet, from south Paris, France. Last seen by his parents on 14 August 1995, it was established that Emmanuel had crossed the Channel the next day. He then sold his car for £350, less than its value. Two days later he stayed one night in the Stakis-Ingram Hotel, [[Glasgow]], paying with his [[Visa Inc.|Visa]] card. His identity was duly confirmed.


There have been suggestions that he might have been murdered because, for example, a witness claimed that he had been with another man at [[Corrour railway station]], but forensic [[evidence]] points to suicide<ref>{{cite news|title=www.guardian.co.uk – Death of a knight Errant|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2002/jan/05/weekend7.weekend1 |work=The Guardian |location=London | date=5 January 2002 | accessdate=26 April 2010 | first=Jean | last=Rafferty}}</ref>
There were suggestions he might have been murdered because a witness claimed that he had been with another man at [[Corrour railway station]], but forensic [[evidence]] points to suicide.<ref>{{cite news|title=www.guardian.co.uk – Death of a knight Errant|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2002/jan/05/weekend7.weekend1 |work=The Guardian |location=London | date=5 January 2002 | access-date=26 April 2010 | first=Jean | last=Rafferty}}</ref>


== ''Kidnapped'' ==
== ''Kidnapped'' ==
[[File:Garbh Choire.jpg|thumb|Garbh Choire on Ben Alder, looking south]]
[[File:Garbh Choire.jpg|thumb|Garbh Choire on Ben Alder, looking south]]
Ben Alder is one of the locations featured in the novel ''[[Kidnapped (novel)|Kidnapped]]'' by [[Robert Louis Stevenson]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Robert Louis Stevenson |title=Kidnapped |publisher=[[Puffin Books]] |location=Harmondsworth |year=1983, first published 1886 |isbn=0-14-035012-8}}</ref> The main characters David Balfour and [[Alan Breck Stewart]] are hosted by the [[Scottish clan chief]] [[Cluny Macpherson]], fugitive after the [[Second Jacobite Rising]], in one of his hiding places at Ben Alder.
Ben Alder is one of the locations featured in the novel ''[[Kidnapped (novel)|Kidnapped]]'' by [[Robert Louis Stevenson]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Robert Louis Stevenson |title=Kidnapped |publisher=[[Puffin Books]] |location=Harmondsworth |year=1983 |orig-year=1886 |isbn=0-14-035012-8}}</ref> The main characters David Balfour and [[Alan Breck Stewart]] are hosted by the [[Scottish clan chief]] [[Ewen MacPherson of Cluny|Cluny MacPherson]], fugitive after the [[Second Jacobite Rising]], in one of his hiding places at Ben Alder.


The part about Cluny MacPherson is based on a true story. He really did hide out for an astonishing nine years on the slopes of Ben Alder, in a hiding place called 'the Cage', before escaping to France.<ref>''Oxford DNB'', 'Macpherson, Ewen, of Cluny (1706–1764)'; C. Duffy, ''The'' ''45'' (2003), p. 534.</ref> [[Prince Charles Edward Stuart]] briefly joined him there in early September 1746 whilst on the run after the failure of the Forty-Five.<ref>Duffy, ''The 45'', p. 535</ref>
⚫
==See also==

⚫
*[[Geology of Scotland]]
==Geodesy==
Ben Alder was the origin (meridian) of the 6 inch and 1:2500 Ordnance Survey maps of Inverness-shire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=198 years and 153 meridians, 152 defunct |url=https://www.charlesclosesociety.org/files/153Meridians.pdf |website=The Charles Close Society for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps |page=12 |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026185105/https://www.charlesclosesociety.org/files/153Meridians.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

⚫
== See also ==
* [[List of Munro mountains]]
⚫
* [[Mountains and hills of Scotland]]
{{portal|mountains}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}
* [http://www.johnmuiraward.org/news/selfguided/tlawfield.html Mentions ghost of Ben Alder Cottage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070518160913/http://www.johnmuiraward.org/news/selfguided/tlawfield.html Mentions ghost of Ben Alder Cottage]
* Rafferty, Jean [http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4328472-103425,00.html Death of Knight Errant]


{{coord|56.81331|N|4.46533|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NN496718)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
{{coord|56.81331|N|4.46533|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NN496718)|display=title}}<!-- Note: WGS84 lat/long, converted from OSGB36 grid ref -->
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[[Category:Marilyns of Scotland]]
[[Category:Marilyns of Scotland]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Central Highlands]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Central Highlands]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of Highland (council area)]]

[[Category:One-thousanders of Scotland]]
[[cy:Ben Alder]]
[[fr:Ben Alder]]
[[nn:Ben Alder]]
[[pl:Ben Alder]]

Latest revision as of 20:30, 8 November 2024

Ben Alder
Beinn Eallair
Highest point
Elevation1,148 m (3,766 ft)[1]
Prominence783 m (2,569 ft)Ranked 40th in British Isles
ListingMunro, Marilyn
Naming
PronunciationScottish Gaelic: [peɲ ˈjal̪ˠɪɾʲ]
Geography
Map
LocationHighlands, Scotland
Parent rangeGrampian Mountains
OS gridNN496718

Ben Alder (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Eallair)[2] is the highest mountain in the remote area of the Scottish Highlands between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean. It rises to 1,148 metres (3,766 ft), making it the 25th highest Munro. The vast summit plateau is home of one of Britain's highest bodies of standing water, Lochan a' Garbh Coire.

Climbing

[edit]

Sitting 19 km from Dalwhinnie and 15 km from Corrour railway station, it is commonly climbed in a two-day expedition, usually taking in its lower neighbour, Beinn Bheoil. There are two bothies near the mountain: Culra Lodge (closed due to asbestos contamination) to the northeast and Ben Alder Cottage to the south, both potentially providing shelter for walkers in the area. Ben Alder Cottage is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a ghillie who hanged himself from the rafters.[citation needed]

The "Man with no Name"

[edit]

A man's body was found near the top of Ben Alder in June 1996, at the edge of a cliff face, overlooking a lochan, his heart pierced by an old-fashioned lead ball bullet. All the labels had been cut from his clothing. Forms of identification such as credit cards were missing. He had a replica Remington .44, unsuitable slip-on shoes, three 1.5-litre bottles of water in his rucksack and £21 in cash.

Although the police later ascertained that his clothing came mostly from French supermarkets, it was not until November 1997, following a cranio-facial reconstruction of the dead man's face, that a friend of the family wondered if the man might be Emmanuel Caillet, from south Paris, France. Last seen by his parents on 14 August 1995, it was established that Emmanuel had crossed the Channel the next day. He then sold his car for £350, less than its value. Two days later he stayed one night in the Stakis-Ingram Hotel, Glasgow, paying with his Visa card. His identity was duly confirmed.

There were suggestions he might have been murdered because a witness claimed that he had been with another man at Corrour railway station, but forensic evidence points to suicide.[3]

Kidnapped

[edit]
Garbh Choire on Ben Alder, looking south

Ben Alder is one of the locations featured in the novel Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.[4] The main characters David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart are hosted by the Scottish clan chief Cluny MacPherson, fugitive after the Second Jacobite Rising, in one of his hiding places at Ben Alder.

The part about Cluny MacPherson is based on a true story. He really did hide out for an astonishing nine years on the slopes of Ben Alder, in a hiding place called 'the Cage', before escaping to France.[5] Prince Charles Edward Stuart briefly joined him there in early September 1746 whilst on the run after the failure of the Forty-Five.[6]

Geodesy

[edit]

Ben Alder was the origin (meridian) of the 6 inch and 1:2500 Ordnance Survey maps of Inverness-shire.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "walkhighlands Ben Alder". walkhighlands.co.uk. 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Ben Alder". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba: Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland.
  3. ^ Rafferty, Jean (5 January 2002). "www.guardian.co.uk – Death of a knight Errant". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. ^ Robert Louis Stevenson (1983) [1886]. Kidnapped. Harmondsworth: Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-035012-8.
  5. ^ Oxford DNB, 'Macpherson, Ewen, of Cluny (1706–1764)'; C. Duffy, The 45 (2003), p. 534.
  6. ^ Duffy, The 45, p. 535
  7. ^ "198 years and 153 meridians, 152 defunct" (PDF). The Charles Close Society for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.

56°48′48″N 4°27′55″W / 56.81331°N 4.46533°W / 56.81331; -4.46533

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