Pass of Drumochter
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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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