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
- Prominence
- 178 m
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 734 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO154841
- Parking
- NO156883
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 59km
- 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
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
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 22:00
- Civil dawn
- 03:38
- Civil dusk
- 23:01
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
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 difficult is Creag nan Gabhar?
- Creag nan Gabhar carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 15km, 734m of ascent and a 5-7 hour day on the standard route. Ground conditions: The Glen Callater track is well-maintained gravel and easy underfoot.
- How much drop does Creag nan Gabhar have?
- The drop is 178m: measured from the summit of Creag nan Gabhar down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Creag nan Gabhar?
- Park at NO156883. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Creag nan Gabhar?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Creag nan Gabhar. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Creag nan Gabhar?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone 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.
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