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Broad Cairn

Munro

Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
998 m (3274 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NO24058156
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
142 of 282 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Broad cairn like hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  44   Ballater, Glen Clova & surrounding area
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

 Description
The summit of Broad Cairn is a cone elongated E to W. To the W a broad col connects to Cairn Bannoch via Cairn of Gowal (983m) and also bears NW to Creag an Dubh-loch.

There is a short broad S ridge and longer E ridge with a vehicle track leading towards the summit (this is the normal ascent route). The track becomes a path which follows the contours to the S of the summit.

Broad Cairn has a steep and craggy N face but all other slopes have moderate to gentle inclines.

Hazards you may encounter on Broad Cairn include
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 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.
Picture Gallery for Broad Cairn

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

 Weather & OS Maps
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)
East Highlands
by Met Office
Broad Cairn
by Metcheck
Broad Cairn Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

 Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Broad Cairn.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

 Routes that include Broad Cairn
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1060 m 24.36 km 7 hrs Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn  Easy route on paths and high moorland plateau.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Broad Cairn

 Baggers Gallery for Broad Cairn

Broad Cairn Apr'11

© Mike Blake

Image by Mike Blake

Sunny winters day on Broad Cairn summit

© Brian Sutherland

Image by Brian Sutherland

kaz tegs and me

© Rob Young

Image by Rob Young

Celebrating reaching the half way mark on Broad Cairn 21/07/2009. Only 142 to go....

© john wells

Image by john wells
View All 13 Baggers Images for Broad Cairn
The logging section stores any entries for Broad Cairn in your own log. From here you can
  1. Add a route log entry that includes this mountain
  2. Write a full account of your route including photos
  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
  4. Delete your log entry
 Logging
Your Route Log
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Recently Climbed By
Graham Neish on 18 Feb 2024
David Griffin on 30 Sep 2023
Stephen Lynch on 13 Sep 2023
Sarah Packham on 07 Aug 2023
Stevie Yates on 07 Aug 2023
Steven Mitchell on 29 Jul 2023
David Buchanan-dunlop on 24 Jun 2023
Robert Simpson on 10 Apr 2023
Daniel Carter on 19 Mar 2023

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Tom Buidhe, Tolmount, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn
by William McGilvray
Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch and Tolmount
by Nico Boxhoorn
Broad Cairn
by Mark Rudzinski
Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn
by Stevie Yates

Post a few words about Broad Cairn or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Stephen Harte
wrote on
July 18, 2010
TEN Munro’s in 13Hrs for Capability Scotland charity. I started at the Glen Doll car park (6am) with my dog Susie and friend Calum. We walked up the Scorrie shoulder and on to Driesh (1) then down to Mayer (2). From Mayer we walked across to Tom Buidhe (3) then across to Cairn of Claise (4) and back too Tolmount (5). From Tolmount I took a bearing to Fafernie where I picked up the track to Carn an Sagairt Mor (6). Walking east off Carn an Sagairt Mor I picked up the path to Cac Carn Berg (Lochnagar) (7) returning on the same path to take in Carn a Choire Bhoidheach (8). Heading roughly west off Carn a Choire Bhoidheach I picked up the path again following it around the bottom of Carn an Sagairt Mor to Cairn Bannoch (9). From Bannoch I walked on to Broad Cairn (10) finishing the walk by heading down to Bachnagairn and returning along Moulzie back to the car park. The total walk took 15hrs travelling just under 50km. If you would like to make a donation and help Capability Scotland or see some photos go to http://www.justgiving.com/TEN-Munros-16HRS
Ian Young
wrote on
March 9, 2010
Route Time: 9 hrs 30 mins This believe it or not was one of the most physically difficult things I've ever done. I nearly gave up whilst going down the side of loch Muick but convinced myself that once I started climbing the waist deep slushy snow would harden and I'd be able to go over the top of it with my crampons on THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!!!!! It was an absolute slog the whole way to the top, I was dripping in sweat continually for the whole day and lost nearly a stone in body weight. It was only my sheer bloody mindedness that got me to the top eventually at 4PM. I finally got back to the car park at 8PM with the aid of a head torch and my lonely trail of footprints from the way up. I'm a very fit and strong person but on this occasion came as close as I ever have to hitting "THE WALL" I would advise anyone else to wait until the snow disappears a bit before they attempt anything similar. In saying that when i was up top it was the best scenery I've ever seen there was no wind and you could've heard a pin drop so not all bad.
John Higgins
wrote on
September 9, 2009
If travelling from the south a better route would be starting from Glen Doll car park, following the River South Esk around the glen passed Moulnie Craig up to the waterfall at Bachnagairn, cross the bridge then up to Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch. Good paths all the way to the tops making for an easy day with some fantastic views.
Kris Benzie
wrote on
February 27, 2009
I walked up Broad Cairn From Glen Muick up the side of Loch Muick in April 2007. It was a horrible day the wind blowing in my cheek there was no way we were going to climb Cairn Bannoch in the same walk. But we got to the top of Broad Cairn luckily!
Kevin Palmer
wrote on
August 19, 2003
I walked the circuit of Loch Muick in July 2003. I strongly recommend doing the circuit clockwise to make the last Munro Cac Carn Beag. Having walked this route anti-clockwise I found the descent from Broad Cairn a pain. The path up to Cac Carn Beag in contrast was excellent so would be better for walking down. There were hundreds of people on Cac Carn Beag but only 1 person the rest of the day.
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

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 Route Write-Ups
There are no Route Write-Ups submitted for Broad Cairn
 
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