Pass of Drumochter
The
Pass of Drumochter (
Scottish Gaelic:
Bealach Druim uachdair) is the main
mountain pass between the northern and southern central
Scottish Highlands. The
A9 road passes through here, as does the
Highland Main Line, the
railway between
Inverness and the south of
Scotland.
It is the high point on the
A9, at 460m (1508 ft.), and in winter is frequently closed during
snowstorms. The summit of the railway line is 452m (1480 ft.), making it the highest in Scotland. The pass is probably the most isolated stretch of both road and rail. The route through the pass has been used since
prehistoric times.
Formed by
glacial action during the
Ice Age, the
River Garry flows to the south, and
River Truim to the north.
It is extremely isolated, and the nearest settlement of any size is
Dalwhinnie, a small village.
There is a sign in Drumochter saying "Welcome to the Highlands/Failte don Gaidhealtachd", this is actually incorrect, as the boundary is
Highland Administrative Region rather than the boundary of the Highlands, which lies far to the south of here.
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Image of the road in winter
