Corbett · Cairngorms
Ben Gulabin
Ben Gulabin — 'the hill of the curlew' — sits directly above the Spittal of Glenshee on the A93 between Perth and Braemar, and gives amongst the most accessible short Corbett ascents in eastern Scotland. The 806m summit comes via a clear path that starts almost beside the road, and the climb is gentle enough to be tackled as a half-day from a base in Glenshee or Pitlochry. The view from the top sweeps north into the Cairnwell hills and south along the Glenshee corridor to the Lowlands.
Quick facts
- Height
- 806m/ 2644ft
- Prominence
- 203 m
- Distance
- 7 km
- Ascent
- 460 m
- Time
- 1–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO100722
- Parking
- NO107708
- Nearest city
- Perth· 49km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
moorland path 30% · heather moorland 40% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Park at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel layby on the A93 (NO107708). Cross the road and pick up the path that climbs north-east up the open hillside. The route follows a clear path up the south ridge to the summit cairn. Strong walkers extend by continuing north to Creagan Bheithe or by including the neighbouring Corbett at Carn an Tuirc nearby. Allow 3–4 hours for Ben Gulabin alone.
Terrain
Clear path the entire way — short, well-trodden, easy underfoot. Grass and heather throughout with no rocky difficulties. The summit is broad and stony with a clear cairn. One of the shortest Corbett ascents and a sensible introduction to the category.
In winter
An excellent winter introductory Corbett — the short approach and broad path make it accessible when bigger Cairngorm objectives are out of reach. Snow lies reliably from January through March on the upper slopes. Cold easterlies from the Mearns can be ferocious; carry a windproof. The Glenshee road is generally well-cleared but can close in heavy storms.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 31m
- Edinburgh2h 7m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Reasonable EE/Vodafone at the Spittal; brief 4G on the summit with line-of-sight south down Glen Shee
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:40
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:40
- Civil dusk
- 23:00
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Ben Gulabin.
Around Ben Gulabin on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Pitlochry station
Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Edradour
Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting
19km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ben Gulabin — common questions
- What difficulty is Ben Gulabin?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Gulabin comes in at 1/5 — easy. Expect roughly 7km and 460m of ascent on the usual route — 1-3 hours for most parties. Terrain: Clear path the entire way — short, well-trodden, easy underfoot.
- How prominent is Ben Gulabin?
- Ben Gulabin has 203m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Ben Gulabin?
- Standard parking is at NO107708. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Ben Gulabin?
- The standard good-weather months for Ben Gulabin are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Ben Gulabin?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Ben Gulabin?
- Reasonable EE/Vodafone at the Spittal; brief 4G on the summit with line-of-sight south down Glen Shee
- Is Ben Gulabin safe in winter?
- An excellent winter introductory Corbett — the short approach and broad path make it accessible when bigger Cairngorm objectives are out of reach. Snow lies reliably from January through March on the upper slopes. Cold easterlies from the Mearns can be ferocious; carry a windproof. The Glenshee road is generally well-cleared but can close in heavy storms.
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