Corbett · Cairngorms
Leathad an Taobhain
Leathad an Taobhain — 'the slope of the rafter' — is the 912m Corbett standing at the south-east corner of the Gaick, the great deer-forest of high featureless plateau between Speyside and Atholl. The summit is genuinely remote, a long way from any road, and gives a sense of empty space found in few other places on the Scottish mainland. The Gaick approach is most often a bike-in from Drumochter or Glen Tromie. Notorious in winter: an avalanche on the Loch an Dùin slopes in 1800 killed five drovers and entered the bagging folklore.
Quick facts
- Height
- 911.7m/ 2991ft
- Distance
- 30 km
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Time
- 7–11 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN821858
- Parking
- NN762828
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
grass path 30% · plateau grass 50% · peat hags 15% · stony top 5%
Park at the small layby near Allt Bhran on the A9 north of Drumochter (NN762828). Walk or cycle the long estate track south-east through Gaick Lodge for around 10km, then turn east into Coire na h-Eilrig. Climb north-east from the corrie onto Leathad an Taobhain's broad south ridge — gentle gradients across short grass and peat. The summit is a low rise on a vast plateau with no obvious cairn. Allow 10–12 hours on foot, considerably less with a bike.
Terrain
Long Land Rover estate track on the approach — fast on a bike, tedious on foot. Off the track the going is short grass and peat hag on a vast featureless plateau. The summit is unmarked on most older maps; GPS is essential in cloud. The whole upper Gaick plateau is one of the most navigationally demanding places in Scotland in poor visibility.
In winter
Leathad an Taobhain in winter is one of the most committed Corbetts in the eastern Highlands. The 1800 Gaick avalanche disaster shows what the area can do — the plateau collects deep wind slab on lee aspects after easterlies. Daylight in midwinter is too short for a single-day round on foot. A two-day with bivvy or bothy is more sensible; the Gaick has several stalker's bothies.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 36m
- Edinburgh3h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: No signal on the hill; brief coverage on the Drumochter pass road
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:32
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 03:31
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Leathad an Taobhain 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
16km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
19km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Leathad an Taobhain — common questions
- How hard is Leathad an Taobhain?
- Leathad an Taobhain is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 30km with 700m of ascent and takes most walkers 7-11 hours. Terrain: Long Land Rover estate track on the approach — fast on a bike, tedious on foot.
- Where do I park for Leathad an Taobhain?
- Standard parking is at NN762828 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 Leathad an Taobhain?
- The standard good-weather months for Leathad an Taobhain 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 Leathad an Taobhain?
- 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 Leathad an Taobhain?
- No signal on the hill; brief coverage on the Drumochter pass road
- Is Leathad an Taobhain safe in winter?
- Leathad an Taobhain in winter is one of the most committed Corbetts in the eastern Highlands. The 1800 Gaick avalanche disaster shows what the area can do — the plateau collects deep wind slab on lee aspects after easterlies. Daylight in midwinter is too short for a single-day round on foot. A two-day with bivvy or bothy is more sensible; the Gaick has several stalker's bothies.