Corbett · Cairngorms
Carn na Drochaide
Càrn na Drochaide — 'the cairn of the bridge' — is the rounded heather Corbett rising directly above the Linn of Dee near Braemar, on the southern edge of the Cairngorms massif. It sits as an outlier rather than a peak of the main range, and its accessibility from amongst the most photographed beauty spots in Scotland makes it a popular short Corbett day. The summit gives a fine front-row view of Beinn a' Bhùird and Ben Avon to the north and the long line of Mar Lodge estate forest to the south.
Quick facts
- Height
- 818m/ 2684ft
- Prominence
- 222 m
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 530 m
- Time
- 2–4 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO127938
- Parking
- NO062898
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 69km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
estate track 30% · heather moorland 40% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Park at the National Trust for Scotland car park at the Linn of Dee. Cross the bridge over the river and follow the estate track west then north into Glen Lui for around 3km. Where the track bends north-east, leave it and climb west on a vague path onto the heather hillside of Càrn na Drochaide. The route rises steadily to the broad summit cairn. Most parties walk out the same way; for a longer round, drop south-west through Mar Lodge estate forest before rejoining the Linn of Dee track. Allow 4–5 hours.
Terrain
Excellent estate track for the first part — easy, well-drained going. Above the track the ground rises through deep heather scattered with low granite outcrops, with no path of consequence on the open hillside. The summit itself is a broad stony plateau crowned by a substantial cairn. Drier underfoot than most western Highland Corbetts.
In winter
A friendly winter day for Cairngorm conditions — the broad open ridge holds snow well but there is no avalanche-prone steep ground on the standard route. The car park at the Linn of Dee is reliably ploughed; the track in is occasionally drifted in north-east winds. Crampons rarely essential; axe useful for confidence on the upper slope.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 57m
- Edinburgh3h 34m
OS maps: OS Landranger 36, OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Reasonable EE/Vodafone signal at the Linn of Dee car park; intermittent from the summit looking south to Glen Lui
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:38
- Sunset
- 22:01
- Civil dawn
- 03:37
- Civil dusk
- 23:02
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn na Drochaide.
Around Carn na Drochaide on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Aviemore station
Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore
30km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
15km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn na Drochaide — common questions
- How difficult is Carn na Drochaide?
- Carn na Drochaide carries a 2/5 (moderate) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 11km, 530m of ascent and a 2-4 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: Excellent estate track for the first part — easy, well-drained going.
- What is Carn na Drochaide's prominence?
- 222m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Carn na Drochaide to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Carn na Drochaide?
- Most walkers start from NO062898. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Carn na Drochaide?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Carn na Drochaide. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Carn na Drochaide dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Carn na Drochaide?
- Reasonable EE/Vodafone signal at the Linn of Dee car park; intermittent from the summit looking south to Glen Lui
- Is Carn na Drochaide safe in winter?
- A friendly winter day for Cairngorm conditions — the broad open ridge holds snow well but there is no avalanche-prone steep ground on the standard route. The car park at the Linn of Dee is reliably ploughed; the track in is occasionally drifted in north-east winds. Crampons rarely essential; axe useful for confidence on the upper slope.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.