Graham · Cairngorms
Blath Bhalg
Blath Bhalg (640m) — the warm bag — is an eastern Perthshire hill in the NO06 square, between Bridge of Cally and the Glen Shee road. A small cairn marks the top of a managed grouse moor with sweeping views east to the Strathmore lowlands and north into Glen Shee.
Quick facts
- Height
- 640.4m/ 2101ft
- Prominence
- 266 m
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 480 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO019611
- Parking
- NO053628
- Nearest city
- Perth· 39km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather moorland 60% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 10%
Park beside the A924 near Kindrogan field studies centre. Take the estate landrover track north onto Carn Liath, then a quad rut south-east along the open moor toward the watershed. The summit cairn lies a short distance from the track on slightly rising ground; the return reverses the line.
Terrain
Excellent estate tracks throughout the lower walk, with a final short stretch of cropped heather to the cairn. The grouse-moor management keeps the heather short and easy underfoot — a relief after pathless ground elsewhere.
In winter
East Perthshire grouse moors get patchy snow but the open watershed funnels easterly wind. Blath Bhalg holds drift in its small hollows; the tracks themselves remain walkable. A short midwinter walk fits comfortably from Kindrogan with daylight to spare.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 14m
- Edinburgh2h 55m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE reliable on the open moor; useful for weather updates.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:34
- Sunset
- 21:05
- Civil dawn
- 04:48
- Civil dusk
- 21:52
NOAA Solar Calculator · 11 August 2026
Around Blath Bhalg 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
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Edradour
Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting
6km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Blath Bhalg — common questions
- How difficult is Blath Bhalg?
- Blath Bhalg carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 12km, 480m of ascent and a 3-5 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: Excellent estate tracks throughout the lower walk, with a final short stretch of cropped heather to the cairn.
- What is Blath Bhalg's prominence?
- 266m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Blath Bhalg to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Blath Bhalg?
- Most walkers start from NO053628. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Blath Bhalg?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November give the most reliable conditions on Blath Bhalg. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Blath Bhalg dog-friendly?
- 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 Blath Bhalg?
- Moderate. EE reliable on the open moor; useful for weather updates.
- Is Blath Bhalg safe in winter?
- East Perthshire grouse moors get patchy snow but the open watershed funnels easterly wind. Blath Bhalg holds drift in its small hollows; the tracks themselves remain walkable. A short midwinter walk fits comfortably from Kindrogan with daylight to spare.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.