Members can control adverts, create their own log,
& contribute to the site for just £10 per year.
Would you like to know more about membership?
Home   Glossary
The Cairnwell Title Image
Meaning Peak of bags
Altitude 933 metres (3061 feet)      (Munro)
Grid Ref. NO13517737
 OS Landranger Maps Required   
Click to purchase from 
  43   Braemar & Blair Atholl
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated)
The Cairnwell
(Click to enlarge)

The Cairnwell from the col between Creag Leacach and Meall Gorm with the Cairngorms in the distance

© Peter Burgess

Image by Peter Burgess
Submit A Picture (M)    View Gallery
Mountain Description
The Cairnwell is one of the easiest ascents for the beginner but also one of the least attractive, with its decoration of Chair lifts and Radio masts. The shape approximates to a triangular pyramid with the main ridge leading NW, and is the normal ascent route. The NE slopes are moderate but littered with skiing equipment. The slopes to the SW and SE are steeper and rocky
Hazards you may encounter on The Cairnwell include
 Crags within 1km of summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Available Routes
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 660 m 11.06 km 3.5 hrs Carn a' Gheoidh, The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda  Easy route, on terrain partially scarred by skiing equipment. 3 / 5
Baggers Gallery Submit a Picture (M)

Cameron on summit,27/06/09.

© Mark Thomson

Image by Mark Thomson

Me at the top of the Cairnwell. A good place to winter walk in the snow.

© Paul Carroll

Image by Paul Carroll

The Cairnwell summit on 22 Feb 09. The debris on this summit is unbelievable. I suppose it's a unique peak.

© Michael Hill

Image by Michael Hill

Enough said !!

© Bob Walls

Image by Bob Walls

After 3 1/2 hours hill walking Finlay (7) standing on top of his third Munro in the day.

© Jerry & Finlay Morse

Image by Jerry & Finlay Morse

Me (Martin Forbes) on top of The Cairnwell on the 01/02/2009.

© Martin Forbes

Image by Martin Forbes
Weather & Maps, etc ...
Links to the nearest available forecast to The Cairnwell.
Lochnagar
by Accuweather
Southeastern Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
East Highlands
by Met Office
Cairn Bannoch
by Metcheck
View Location
(Detailed Ordnance Survey maps are available to registered users)
Proximity Search       
Enter a distance (1-99 km) to find other mountains in this area.
Find Mountains within km of The Cairnwell.
Comments Submit A Comment (M)
Gareth Pratt
wrote on May 21, 2009:
Utterly depressing place. Nothing more to say. Quite frankly it looks as if Sauron wanted to see how much damage he could inflict in one place before going on to occupy Mount Doom.
Donny McKie
wrote on December 3, 2006:
This hill is a baggers dream and the easiest tick you'll ever get. Nevertheless, it should consider itself very lucky that it just happens to be within the height range of the munro. There is nothing to commend the ascent of this hill. The summit is a mess and the overwhelming feeling is to leave the summit as quickly as possible.
Robert Lyall
wrote on January 22, 2006:
Steep ascent from the car park following the Cairnwell chairlift. The summit itself is a disappointment, with electrical cables, debris, barbed wire and 'telecoms' debris strewn across the ground. One to climb when the mist is down! PS a thin covering of snow did not hide the debris!!
Showing the latest 3 comments. There are 6 available to members.
Local Accommodation Options
Showing the nearest 10 of 32 within 100Km of the summit of The Cairnwell. Would you like to view all 32?
14.0 km Schiehallion House - 10 Glenshee Road Braemar, AB35 5YQ   Tel: 013397 41679
14.2 km Dalmore House - Fife Brae, Braemar, AB35 5NS   Tel: 013397 41225
43.1 km Ravenscraig Guest House - Grampian Road, Aviemore, PH22 1RP   Tel: 01479 810278
46.9 km Croft Holidays - Croft Dhu, Newtonmore, PH20 1BA   Tel: 01540 673504
47.0 km Creag Meagaidh - Creag Meagaidh, Main Street, Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, PH20 1DP   Tel: 01540 673798
47.1 km Craigerne House Hotel and Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop - Golf Course Road, PH20 1AT   Tel: 01540 673 281
54.9 km The Rumblie Guest House - The Rumblie, Gergask Avenue, Laggan, By Newtonmore, PH20 1AH   Tel: 01528 544766
66.1 km Suilven Self Catering - Suilven 35 Strowan road Comrie, PH6 2EP   Tel: 07774977382
68.7 km Killin Highland Lodges - Aberfeldy Road, Killin , Perthshire , FK21 8TX   Tel: 08 456 444 830
71.4 km Killin Hotel - Main Street, Killin, Perthshire, FK21 8TP   Tel: 01567 820296
If you would like to have your accommodation listed on MunroMagic, please read our participation information page.
For information on camping visit ScottishCamping.com who also produce a map of scottish camp grounds.
(M) denotes membership is required to enable the feature.
 
|