Corbett · Cairngorms
Creag nan Gabhar
Creag nan Gabhar — "crag of the goats" — is the prominent rocky-faced Corbett rising directly east of the A93 in Glen Clunie, south of Braemar. At 834m a modest cairn marks a broad heather plateau with a striking close-up view of Lochnagar to the east and the Cairnwell ski hill to the south. The hill's east face drops away in small but steep crag bands toward Loch Callater, giving the name its sense — the crags here are the only places in upper Glen Clunie where goats could find footing.
Gaelic: “crag, of the, goat” · Pronunciation: krayg nan gabhar
Quick facts
- Height
- 834m/ 2736ft
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 734 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO154841
- Parking
- NO156883
- Nearest city
- Dundee
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
hill track 30% · open hillside 35% · broad plateau 25% · summit cairn 10%
Park at the lay-by on the A93 at Auchallater south of Braemar and follow the public hill track east up Glen Callater for around 2km before climbing north up the open hillside onto the south-west shoulder of Creag nan Gabhar. The summit ridge is reached after a steady pull on heather and grass. Around 15km return with 734m of ascent. Often combined with Lochnagar or simply tackled as a short day from Braemar.
Terrain
The Glen Callater track is well-maintained gravel and easy underfoot. Off the track the hillside is short heather and grass with no path — straightforward walking up the broad shoulder. The summit area is flat heather and small granite blocks; the east edge drops away in low crag bands easily skirted on the south side. No exposure on the standard approach.
In winter
A reliable winter hill — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes of consequence, and good shelter in Glen Callater. The summit plateau picks up significant easterly snowfall in the Aberdeenshire weather pattern. The A93 over the Cairnwell is gritted; the lay-by at Auchallater is accessible all winter. Daylight is short in midwinter but the close approach makes a half-day feasible.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 47m
- Edinburgh2h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Intermittent signal in Glen Clunie; nothing on the summit plateau
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:30
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 22:53
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Creag nan Gabhar.
Around Creag nan Gabhar 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
33km 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
14km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Creag nan Gabhar — common questions
- How hard is Creag nan Gabhar?
- Creag nan Gabhar is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 734m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-7 hours. Terrain: The Glen Callater track is well-maintained gravel and easy underfoot.
- Where do I park for Creag nan Gabhar?
- Standard parking is at NO156883 near Dundee. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Creag nan Gabhar?
- The standard good-weather months for Creag nan Gabhar 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 Creag nan Gabhar?
- 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 Creag nan Gabhar?
- Intermittent signal in Glen Clunie; nothing on the summit plateau
- Is Creag nan Gabhar safe in winter?
- A reliable winter hill — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes of consequence, and good shelter in Glen Callater. The summit plateau picks up significant easterly snowfall in the Aberdeenshire weather pattern. The A93 over the Cairnwell is gritted; the lay-by at Auchallater is accessible all winter. Daylight is short in midwinter but the close approach makes a half-day feasible.