Corbett · Cairngorms
Culardoch
Culardoch is the 900m Corbett rising at the eastern edge of the Cairngorms, between Glen Gairn and the upper Don valley. The mountain forms part of the Invercauld estate and sits on a long undulating moorland ridge stretching north from the Lochnagar massif. The summit is reached by one of the most direct estate-track ascents of any Corbett — a Land Rover track climbs to within 200m of the top from the Bealach Dearg. Views look south to Lochnagar and west into the main Cairngorm plateau.
Quick facts
- Height
- 900m/ 2953ft
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 670 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO193988
- Parking
- NO187913
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
estate road 25% · heather moorland 40% · plateau grass 25% · summit area 10%
Park at the small Keiloch car park on the A93 between Braemar and Ballater (NO187913). Cycle or walk the estate track north up Glen Feardar for around 8km, then continue east through the Bealach Dearg. From the bealach a vehicle track climbs almost to the summit — Culardoch is one of the few Corbetts where you can essentially drive to the top in a Land Rover. Allow 8 hours on foot, 5 with a bike.
Terrain
Excellent estate tracks throughout most of the day. The Bealach Dearg track is well-maintained and quick. Above the bealach the upper hill is heather and short grass with a trig pillar at the top. The summit ridge is broad and gently rounded; in cloud, the broad plateau demands accurate map work.
In winter
A friendly winter Corbett by Cairngorm standards — the estate tracks give reliable navigation under snow cover. The Bealach Dearg track holds drift in north-easterly winds. The Keiloch start is at low elevation and accessible in most winters. Cold easterly winds across the plateau can be ferocious; carry full insulation.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 6m
- Edinburgh3h 39m
OS maps: OS Landranger 36, OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal on this accessible Deeside hill — often 2-3 bars
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:29
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 22:54
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Culardoch.
Around Culardoch 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
33km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
12km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Culardoch — common questions
- How hard is Culardoch?
- Culardoch is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 22km with 670m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-7 hours. Terrain: Excellent estate tracks throughout most of the day.
- Where do I park for Culardoch?
- Standard parking is at NO187913 near Inverness. 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 Culardoch?
- The standard good-weather months for Culardoch are 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 Culardoch?
- 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 Culardoch?
- Reasonable signal on this accessible Deeside hill — often 2-3 bars
- Is Culardoch safe in winter?
- A friendly winter Corbett by Cairngorm standards — the estate tracks give reliable navigation under snow cover. The Bealach Dearg track holds drift in north-easterly winds. The Keiloch start is at low elevation and accessible in most winters. Cold easterly winds across the plateau can be ferocious; carry full insulation.