Corbett · Central Highlands
Carn na Saobhaidhe
Càrn na Saobhaidhe — 'the cairn of the fox's den' — is the central Monadhliath Corbett standing roughly mid-way between the Spey valley and Loch Mhor. At 811m it sits as the high point of an enormous rolling moorland, with no rocky character at all — just heather, peat, and immense skies. The summit cairn is unmarked and easy to miss on the broad plateau. The hill is rarely climbed for its own sake; most parties bag it via long-distance bike or as part of a Monadhliath traverse.
Quick facts
- Height
- 811.1m/ 2661ft
- Prominence
- 170 m
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 600 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH598143
- Parking
- NH560224
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 32km
- 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
estate track 30% · heather moorland 45% · grassy plateau 15% · summit area 10%
Park near Errogie on the B862 (NH560224), where a forestry track climbs south-west into the Monadhliath. Cycle the long track for around 8km, then leave the bike at the track end and walk south-east across the plateau to the Carn na Saobhaidhe summit cairn. Navigation across the featureless moor demands accurate compass work. Allow 6 hours on bike-and-foot, considerably longer on foot alone.
Terrain
An extensive Land Rover estate route along the approach — best ridden. Beyond the track, open peat moorland with no path. The summit area is wide and gently rolling; the cairn is small and unmarked on most maps. Bring a GPS — the broad top has subtle subsidiary tops that all look the same in cloud.
In winter
A long winter day in featureless country. The estate track holds drift in north-east winds; bike becomes useless once snow is on it. Snow lies long on the plateau. Navigation in whiteout is the real winter hazard — the broad summit has nothing for terrain reference. Bring compass and GPS, and do not start late.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 10m
- Edinburgh3h 59m
OS maps: OS Landranger 35
Mobile signal: Zero signal in this remote Atholl/Badenoch watershed area
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:37
- Sunset
- 21:08
- Civil dawn
- 04:50
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 12 August 2026
Around Carn na Saobhaidhe on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kingussie station
Cairngorms south side; Glen Feshie; Insh Marshes; Monadhliath access
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
30km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tomatin
Tomatin — large Highland distillery just off the A9, south of Inverness
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn na Saobhaidhe — common questions
- How hard is Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- We grade Carn na Saobhaidhe at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. The usual route is around 22km with 600m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Terrain: An extensive Land Rover estate route along the approach — best ridden.
- How prominent is Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- Carn na Saobhaidhe has 170m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- Standard parking is at NH560224. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn na Saobhaidhe 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 Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Carn na Saobhaidhe?
- Zero signal in this remote Atholl/Badenoch watershed area
- Is Carn na Saobhaidhe safe in winter?
- A long winter day in featureless country. The estate track holds drift in north-east winds; bike becomes useless once snow is on it. Snow lies long on the plateau. Navigation in whiteout is the real winter hazard — the broad summit has nothing for terrain reference. Bring compass and GPS, and do not start late.
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