The English name refers to a mountain lake in the northeast corrie, Lochan na Gaire, the 'little loch of the noisy sound'. Beinn Chìochan or Beinn nan Cìochan, 'mountain of breasts' or ' breast-shaped mountain', is probably the original Gaelic name for the mountain. [3] [4] [5] a b c Townsend, Chris (30 March 2011). Scotland. Cicerone Press Limited. p.265. ISBN 9781849653534 . Retrieved 15 March 2018. The Honours of Scotland". sco.org.uk. Scottish Chamber Orchestra. 1 July 2023 . Retrieved 31 August 2023. The old man loses his grip while attempting to scale the Lochnagar cliff and falls into the loch, where he meets "lagopus Scoticus," a "freshwater variant of Neptune". The man and lagopus Scoticus converse using bubbles which display their thoughts in written text and go hunting for "Loch-haggis" in a "sea-rover" underwater vehicle. After the hunt, the old man "feast[s] on Loch-haggis and suffer[s] terribly from wind," before going to sleep beside the loch.

Old Man of Lochnagar by Prince of Wales (1980, Hardcover) The Old Man of Lochnagar by Prince of Wales (1980, Hardcover)

After eavesdropping on people having picnics, the old man decides he should visit London to see for himself the place he has heard so much about. However, after meeting some other grumpy passengers and a disasterous start to his rail journey, he decides that he would rather stay at home after all. He realises that there is no place “more special to be, than to be living at the foot of Lochnagar. ” It is often reported how much the Royal family enjoy their private family time at Balmoral, so I wonder if the old man and King Charles feel the same way about living there. Lochnagar's summit experiences an Alpine Tundra Climate, with freezing, snowy winters and cool summers. The nearest UK Met Office weather station is at Braemar 6 + 1⁄ 2 miles (10 kilometres) northwest. The yearly temperature range is usually between −6.6 and 9.4°C (20.1 and 48.9°F). January has the highest average frosts, despite February nights being colder; January has an average of 26.9 frost days, compared with 24.3 in February. There is the risk of a frost at any time of the year, even in July and August, when each month averages 1 air frost every 10 years. [10] [11] Nature and conservation [ edit ] Lochnagar or Beinn Chìochan is a mountain in the Mounth, in the Grampians of Scotland. It is about five miles (eight kilometres) south of the River Dee near Balmoral. It is a popular hill with hillwalkers, and is a noted venue for summer and winter climbing. The story of the old man of Lochnagar was one Prince Charles had told some years earlier to entertain his brothers, Andrew and Edward, when they were young. The book was published in 1980 in aid of The Prince's Trust charity.In 2007, National Youth Ballet of Great Britain received permission from the Prince of Wales to create a new ballet based on the story. With choreography by Drew McOnie and a commissioned score by Nigel Hess, the ballet received its première at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 14 October 2007 and was performed from 24 to 27 October at Leatherhead Theatre in Surrey. Plot Mitchell, Ian (2004). Scotland's Mountains Before the Mountaineers. Luath Press. p.63. ISBN 0946487391. The story is about an old man of who lives in a cave near Loch Lochnagar (which is close to Balmoral, where the British Royal family have their favourite Summer home). The old man loves living alone out in the wild countryside and has many strange and wonderful friends including the underwater Loch King lagopus Scoticus, the little Gorm people who live in cairns, and his tame bird friends such as the capercaillie who pull his flying carriage, Skean and Dhu his fishing ospreys and a pair of stags who pull his winter sledge. The Old Man of Lochnagar is a children's book written by Charles, Prince of Wales, and illustrated by Sir Hugh Casson. The story revolves around an old man who lives in a cave in the cliffs surrounding the corrie loch under the Lochnagar, a mountain which overlooks the royal estate at Balmoral in Scotland where the Royal Family spend much of their summer holidays. The Old Man has learned that his actions affect others and that he must think of the consequences. The story ends with the Gorm sharing a huge bath with the Old Man, complete with water wheels and boats. When he is finished, the Old Man drains his bath using more of his special plumbing skills to reuse the water to reactivate the magic seeds and causing flowers to pop up all around.

Lochnagar - Munro (Walkhighlands) Lochnagar - Munro (Walkhighlands)

Finally, all is ready and the Old Man appears in his tartan dressing gown, ready to step into the bath. But, as he jumps in, he realises that the water is freezing and his squeals echo round the loch. He tells Maudie that he will have to wait for a bath until he has found a way of heating the water, and pulls the plug on his full bath. In 2007, National Youth Ballet of Great Britain received permission from the Prince of Wales to create a new ballet based on the story. With choreography by Drew McOnie and a commissioned score by Nigel Hess, the ballet received its première at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 14 October 2007 and was performed from 24 to 27 October at Leatherhead Theatre in Surrey. [7] Plot [ edit ] The mountain forms part of two designated Special Protection Areas, [14] due to its importance for breeding dotterel ( Charadrius morinellus) [15] and golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos). [16] Cultural references [ edit ] The story ends by saying that the old man was secretly rather pleased not to go to London. "He couldn't think of anywhere more special to be," concludes the storyteller, "than to be living at the foot of Lochnagar."Donald Bennett, ed. (1985). The Munros, SMC Hillwalkers' Guide. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. p.122. ISBN 0-907521-13-4.