Carn nan Gabhar, Braigh Coire Chruinn-Bhalgain and Carn Liath Route Information

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Carn nan Gabhar, Braigh Coire Chruinn-Bhalgain & Carn Liath

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1480 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

7 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

22.38 km

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.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

43	Braemar & Blair Atholl

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Beinn a' Ghlo is a classic route on moderate heather/grass slopes leading to stony summits. This complex mountain could be difficult to navigate in poor visibility.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Blair Atholl

From Blair Atholl (A9) take minor road N on east side of River Tilt to Middlebridge then on towards Loch Moraig as far as the road will allow. There is limited parking where you leave the trees for more open ground.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,480 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 22.38 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start from carpark on road near Loch Moraig
		NN90586711	Distance	Altitude 340 m

1	Follow road ENE, pass through gate and continue to two wooden buildings
		NN92316785	Distance 1.95 km	Altitude 415 m

2	Cross field NNE to join path by wall and ascend Carn Liath
		NN93616987	Distance 2.51 km	Altitude 975 m

3	Descend N on winding ridge to col
		NN93877141	Distance 2.05 km	Altitude 765 m

4	Ascend E, turning N to the summit of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain
		NN94567241	Distance 1.51 km	Altitude 1070 m

5	Follow winding ridge NE then descend E to col
		NN95827269	Distance 1.42 km	Altitude 850 m

6	Ascend E to col
		NN96377249	Distance 0.58 km	Altitude 992 m

7	Bear NE to the summit of Carn nan Gabhar
		NN97117330	Distance 1.17 km	Altitude 1121 m

8	Return SW to col
		NN96377249	Distance 1.17 km	Altitude 992 m

9	Continue SW to Airgoid Beinn
		NN96207206	Distance 0.58 km	Altitude 1061 m

10	Descend SW on stoney ridge
		NN95327081	Distance 1.55 km	Altitude 559 m

11	Head SSE to join path in Coire Lagain
		NN95906975	Distance 1.29 km	Altitude 568 m

12	Head SW to junction
		NN95666910	Distance 0.70 km	Altitude 568 m

13	Follow path/track WSW to rejoin approach road and return to carpark
		NN90586711	Distance 5.91 km	Altitude 340 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Southeastern Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Derry Cairngorm
by Metcheck

Images of Carn nan Gabhar, Braigh Coire Chruinn-Bhalgain & Carn Liath

Stopping for a rest on the pull up to Braigh Coire Chruinn-Bhalgain and looking back at Carn Liath.

Image by Connall Greene

Clouds rolling over the summit, Carn Liath.

Image by Tom Cowley

Carn Liath from Fenderbridge

Image by Alistair Craig

Carn Liath from the west.

Image by Keith Johnstone

Route 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.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 17 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Gordon Macneish on 21 Oct 2012:

Did this walk on 20 Oct 2012. Quite a straightforward pleasant walk - until the return. Came back to point 6 on the route map and descended along the path by the stream, it started out ok but then became a quagmire. It was pretty much like this all the way to the Land Rover track. If I was to do this again I'd consider going back over the tops, much easier walking.

Written by Nicholas Rushton on 26 Apr 2011:

Two points. When I did this walk Easter Sunday 2011, it is worth noting that there is now only ONE wooden hut at point 2. Judging by the charred wood, it looks as though the bothy has burnt down. I returned from the final summit to the bealach at point 6, and followed a vague deer trod safely enough down to almost the base of the S ridge, and then crossed to the west side to pick up a well trodden path which led directly back to the single hut.

Written by Martin Joyce on 03 May 2008:

Most people now seem to come off the western edge of Airgoid Beinn down a steep path that connects to the Coire Lagain path further up the Allt Bealach an Fiodhe than is indicated by the Muromagic route at point 11. A path from the col at point 6 down the east side of the burn also seems to be well-patronised and may be a better option than the stony upper ridge of Airgoid Beinn.

Written by Andy Phanco on 04 Sep 2007:

This is quite a long day which I measured at 14 miles and which took me 7 hours. Excellent views on a clear day. Care is required when descending from Airgiod Bheinn to ensure you intercept the path - this would be easy to pass by in mist.

Written by Scott Strathdee on 26 Jul 2007:

This route is on paths most of the way. The descent from Airgold Bienn can be tricky! a faint path gets lost in the scree dodgy in the mist otherwise a good day.

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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