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Caisteal Abhail

Corbett
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
859 m (2818 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.
NR96924433
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
78 of 222 Corbetts
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
Forked castle
 

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
  69   Isle of Arran
 

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

  Description
Arran's 4 Corbetts are sufficiently close to one another to be climbed together, but Goatfell is popular as a single peak and is described separately.

The three remaining peaks lie on a long winding ridge that starts with Beinn Nuis (792m) then goes N to Beinn Tarsuinn (Corbett), Cir Mhor (Corbett) and finally Caisteal Abhail (Corbett). Caisteal Abhail sits like a trident head at the N end of the long ridge, its three N ridges forming the prongs of the trident.

There are four main ridges, N, NW turning N over Carn Mor to Creag Dhubh, E turning NE to an un-named peak where it branches N to Creag Ghlas and NE to Suidhe Fhearghlas, and finally a short ridge runs S to Cir Mhor. All ridges have crags and rock outcrops.

The normally ascent route is from Cir Mhor.

Hazards you may encounter on Caisteal Abhail include
 Unbridged River to cross.
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near 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 Caisteal Abhail

Caisteal Abhail from Cir Mhor. The summit is in the centre and is approached from the high grassy saddle to the right; 27th April 2008.

© Roger Vander Steen
Image by Roger Vander Steen

North Goatfell and Caisteal Abhail from Suidhe Fhearghas 10/04/2010

© Donald Brown
Image by Donald Brown

A great view of Caisteal Abhail from the top of Goatfell on the 16th march 08.

© James Mcphate
Image by James Mcphate

The summit plateau of Caisteal Abhail, from the north-west; 27th April 2008.

© Roger Vander Steen
Image by Roger Vander Steen
View All 16 Images for Caisteal Abhail

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

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
  West Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Lomond
by Metcheck
Caisteal Abhail 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 Caisteal Abhail.

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

  Routes that include Caisteal Abhail
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1702 m 20.32 km 7 hrs Caisteal Abhail, Beinn Tarsuinn [Arran] and Cir Mhor  A long route on ridges to three craggy peaks. Good stamina and a head for exposure required.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Caisteal Abhail

  Baggers Gallery for Caisteal Abhail

Me & Ted at the summit 26.07.14

© Paul Burgess
Image by Paul Burgess

Summit of Caisteal Abhail: 9th March 2014

© Oliver Bartrum
Image by Oliver Bartrum

Laura, Steph & Chris on Caisteal Abhail (2nd June 2012)

© Lynda Langlands
Image by Lynda Langlands

Scott & Lynda on Caisteal Abhail (2nd June 2012)

© Lynda Langlands
Image by Lynda Langlands
View All 9 Baggers Images for Caisteal Abhail
The logging section stores any entries for Caisteal Abhail 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
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  Logging
Your Route Log
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Recently Climbed By
Bob Burrell on 03 Sep 2023

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 Shared Members Track Logs

Post a few words about Caisteal Abhail or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Mike Watson
wrote on
April 27, 2009
Approached from the bealach between it and Cir Mhor. Left the rucksacks under a convenient boulder and quickly made the summit. Decided to climb all the tors to avoid any confusion!
Kevin Woods
wrote on
July 28, 2008
I began at the car park by the North Glen Sannox river. This starts near sea level and the ascent up to the Witches Step is tough although not too sustained. I bypassed the Witches Step on the north side however even the bypass path isn't an easy ride to the top, it's still indistinct and narrow. Locating the summit in mist was also difficult although there seems to be remenants of an older trig point there - if you take the small north ridge, Cuithe Mheadhonach, then it leads directly to the summit tor. From the Cir Mhor-Abhail col, it's a steep scrmable down into Glen Sannox, but managable.
Roger Vander Steen
wrote on
April 30, 2008
I took a bus to the start as I was returning to Glen Rosa, getting off at the top of the Sannox - Lochranza road to gain as much height as possible. I followed the forest fence for a mile on rough grass with soggy patches, then aimed for Creag Dhubh. A path leads round the impressive summit outcrop to its east side for easy access. There are several granite tors; don’t climb the wrong one.
 
 

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

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  Route Write-Ups
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