Science & nature · Evidence-backed
Ben Macdui
Ben Macdui is the second‑highest summit in the United Kingdom and a prominent destination for hillwalkers. The following items explain its elevation, location, how UK mountains are measured and classified, and what geographers mean by a mountain, how they form, and how they are worn down over time.
Fourteen concise facts cover Ben Macdui’s height and ranking, its place in the Grampian range, UK mountain‑height thresholds, prominence‑based classifications, and general mountain definitions and formation processes, all drawn from the supplied sources.
Ben Macdui’s height and UK ranking
Ben Macdui reaches an elevation of 1,309 metres (4,295 feet) above sea level, making it the second‑highest mountain in the United Kingdom. The only UK peak taller than Ben Macdui is Ben Nevis at 1,345 metres, a difference of 36 metres. This ranking is given in the UK Mountains Directory, which lists the ten highest peaks in the country and notes Ben Nevis’s lead over Ben Macdui.
Location within the Grampian range
Ben Macdui is situated in the Grampian mountain range of the Scottish Highlands. The directory describes the highest mountains in the UK as all being Munros located in the Scottish Highlands, and it explicitly places Ben Macdui within the Grampians, the range that contains the UK’s tallest summits.
Ordnance Survey’s 600‑metre mountain threshold
In the United Kingdom, a mountain is generally defined as any summit above 600 metres (1,968 feet) above sea level. This threshold is the one used by Ordnance Survey to distinguish mountains from hills and is cited in the UK Mountains Directory as the widely accepted height cut‑off for hillwalkers and peak baggers.
Prominence as a key classification metric
Prominence measures the vertical distance between a summit and the lowest contour line that encircles it without touching a higher summit. For UK hillwalkers, prominence is a crucial factor alongside height when deciding whether a peak counts as a distinct mountain. Many of the UK’s hill‑walking lists use prominence thresholds to avoid counting minor bumps on a ridge as separate summits.
The Munro category – Scotland’s 3,000‑foot peaks
Munros are defined as Scottish mountains higher than 3,000 feet (914 metres). The UK Mountains Directory records 282 Munros, all located in the Scottish Highlands. This list is the most prestigious hill‑walking challenge in Scotland and forms the basis for the claim that the UK’s highest mountains are all Munros.
Corbetts – the 2,500‑ to 3,000‑foot Scottish peaks
Corbetts are Scottish summits that fall between 2,500 and 3,000 feet (762–914 metres) in height and possess a minimum prominence of 500 feet (152 metres). The directory notes that there are 222 Corbetts, providing a well‑used secondary classification for walkers who seek substantial Scottish hills just below Munro status.
Hewitts – England, Wales and Ireland’s 2,000‑foot hills
Hewitts are hills in England, Wales and Ireland that exceed 2,000 feet (610 metres) and have at least 30 metres of prominence. The UK Mountains Directory applies this definition across the three nations, giving walkers a consistent benchmark for notable hills outside Scotland.
Nuttalls – England and Wales’ 2,000‑foot peaks with lower prominence
Nuttalls are similar to Hewitts but require only 15 metres of prominence and are restricted to England and Wales. The directory includes all Nuttalls, offering a more inclusive list of sub‑1,000‑metre summits that still meet a clear height criterion.
Marilyns – Britain and Ireland’s prominent hills
Marilyns are defined by a prominence of at least 150 metres, regardless of absolute height. Approximately 1,556 Marilyns are recorded across Britain and Ireland, making them the most numerous prominence‑based list and a popular target for hillwalkers seeking significant rises in the landscape.
Wainwrights – the Lake District’s 214 fells
Wainwrights are the 214 peaks featured in Alfred Wainwright’s pictorial guides to the Lake District. Though not based on a strict height or prominence rule, they constitute a beloved list for walkers visiting England’s largest national park and are noted in the UK Mountains Directory as a distinct hill‑walking category.
Every numbered claim above was required to carry source evidence before this topic could be published.