Bennachie stands as an icon to the people of Peterhead and Aberdeen, much as Roseberry Topping is revered by the citizens of Teesside.
It is actually a range of hills, with Oxen Craig reaching a height of 528 metres. Though modest in elevation compared to other Scottish peaks, Bennachie’s isolation and the flatness of the surrounding terrain lend it a commanding presence over the north-eastern skyline.
The origins of the name “Bennachie” remain uncertain. Derived from the Gaelic “Beinn na Cìche,” one interpretation translates this as the “Mountain of Ce,” a Pictish king. A more popular theory suggests it means the “hill of the pap,” referring to a conspicuous feature of the female anatomy.
While Oxen Craig may be the highest point, Mither Tap, a granite tor only 11 metres lower, is more remarkable. It has its striking rock formations and obligatory hillfort, but it is its shape when viewed from a distance that is said to inspire the name “The Pap.”
I first heard of Bennachie from a BBC Scotland podcast about the Bailies of Bennachie1https://open.spotify.com/episode/w5wKwkCsgDteyBJdzqvtDTc?si=Oynk2M_pTpyEko-KhiKfZg. Founded in 1973, this volunteer conservation charity dedicates itself to maintaining the path network and supporting various environmental and archaeological activities on the hill.
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