Our bite-sized intros to Britain's favourite hills continue with the mighty Braeriach. Scotland's third highest summit, this big beast is home to the nearest thing we have to a glacier - the semi-permanent snow patches of Garbh Choire.

Height: 1296m (4252ft)

Personality: Wild, enigmatic – perhaps even intimidating. Braeriach is the third highest peak in the UK, and dominates the western Cairngorms, standing guard over one side of the Lairig Ghru. It's a serious and remote place in winter, but it's never really summer here.

What's in a name? In Gaelic: brindled greyish upper part, or brindled upland.

Hidden gem: There are many, but the blue-green Loch Coire an Lochain, hidden away on the north side of the mountain, is worth the trek. On the southern side, the Falls of Dee crash in spectacular cascades into the Garbh Choire amphitheatre.

Greatest route? The classic Cairn Toul – Braeriach traverse from Corrour bothy to Aviemore is one of the great hillwalking journeys of the Cairngorms. Not to be underestimated at any time of year, it's particularly committing in winter.

Who made that route famous? Mountain writer W.H. Murray wrote of an epic crossing of this plateau in Mountaineering in Scotland, 1947: 'A storm by day in the Cairngorms is a hard experience. A storm by night would have killed us. Rarely have I been more exhausted and numbed with cold.'

But what's the easiest ascent? If a full traverse looks a tall order the popular linear there-and-back route from Glen More via the Chalamain Gap is more manageable; it's still a fantastic day out! For details see the UKH route card.

Any specific dangers? Winter climbers on Braeriach's crags face the challenge of a long walk-in combined with short daylight hours, but cornices present a very real danger affecting both climbers and walkers. Due to the mountain's topography and height, monster cornices form around the corrie rims – some of the biggest in the UK – and they can persist well into summer. Constant vigilance is required in poor visibility to avoid cornice danger.

Pub quiz trivia: The snows of Braeriach rarely melt. Snow patches persist most years in Garbh Choire Mòr, south of the main summit, and have only melted completely a few times since the 19th century. Garbh Choire Mòr is the subject of much study to help us understand Scotland's semi-permanent snow patches. 2015 was a recent vintage year for summer snow survival, with 74 individual snow patches persisting across Scotland until the next winter.

Where to stay? For the full Cairngorm experience, a night in Corrour bothy is a must. The small Garbh Coire howff is currently in poor repair and only recommended as an emergency shelter.

Local pub: The Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore is a popular walker's haunt; the Cairngorm Hotel is also excellent.

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