Corbett · Cairngorms
Mount Battock
Mount Battock is the easternmost Corbett in Scotland — a broad heather-and-granite hill straddling the boundary between Angus and Aberdeenshire, with its summit at the head of Glen Esk and views east to the North Sea coast. The mountain is the high point of the gentle Mounth plateau and feels more like a Donald hill in character than a typical Highland Corbett: rounded slopes, grass and heather, gentle gradients. The drive in from Edzell up Glen Esk ranks as one of the loveliest in Angus, and the hill makes a good early-season day before the higher peaks shed their snow.
Quick facts
- Height
- 778m/ 2552ft
- Distance
- 19 km
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO549844
- Parking
- NO448803
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
estate road 30% · heather moorland 45% · grassy plateau 15% · summit area 10%
Most parties start from the road end at Millden in Glen Esk, although the route is often combined with a cycle approach to shorten the day on foot. From the road, take the estate track north-west through Glen Mark and on to the Queen's Well — a Victorian monument worth a brief detour. From the well, climb west-north-west onto the open moorland and follow a vague path to the broad summit of Mount Battock. Return reverses the line. Allow 6–7 hours on foot, less if cycling the lower track.
Terrain
Good Land Rover estate track for the first 8km — flat and easy. Beyond the track end, heather and rough grass cover gentle rounded slopes. Drier underfoot than the western Corbetts because of the Cairngorm rain shadow. The summit plateau is featureless; in cloud, navigation needs care.
In winter
Battock ranks as one of the better winter Corbetts for inexperienced winter walkers — gentle gradients, no avalanche-prone steep ground, and easy route-finding in good visibility. Snow lies long on the broad plateau in cold winters. The track can hold ice and drift; cycle wheels become useless once snow is on it. Cold easterlies from the North Sea can be brutal on the summit.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 56m
- Edinburgh2h 26m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: Reasonable EE/Vodafone in lower Glen Esk; signal weakens past the Queen's Well; usable on the summit looking east
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 03:27
- Civil dusk
- 22:51
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Mount Battock.
Around Mount Battock on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Montrose station
East Angus coast; Montrose Basin nature reserve; Glen Esk approach
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
28km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Mount Battock — common questions
- How hard is Mount Battock?
- Mount Battock is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 19km with 700m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-7 hours. Terrain: Good Land Rover estate track for the first 8km — flat and easy.
- Where do I park for Mount Battock?
- Standard parking is at NO448803 near Aberdeen. 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 Mount Battock?
- The standard good-weather months for Mount Battock 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 Mount Battock?
- 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 Mount Battock?
- Reasonable EE/Vodafone in lower Glen Esk; signal weakens past the Queen's Well; usable on the summit looking east
- Is Mount Battock safe in winter?
- Battock ranks as one of the better winter Corbetts for inexperienced winter walkers — gentle gradients, no avalanche-prone steep ground, and easy route-finding in good visibility. Snow lies long on the broad plateau in cold winters. The track can hold ice and drift; cycle wheels become useless once snow is on it. Cold easterlies from the North Sea can be brutal on the summit.