Graham · Central Highlands
Carn a' Chaochain
Carn a' Chaochain (706m) — the cairn of the streamlet — at NH23 sits in the empty moorland between Glen Affric and Glen Moriston, west of Tomich. The cairn-topped summit looks over the great Affric forest and lochs to the Five Sisters of Kintail, with the Mullardoch Munros stacked behind. The hill is rarely climbed despite proximity to the National Nature Reserve — most attention goes to the bigger Affric Munros nearby.
Quick facts
- Height
- 706.6m/ 2318ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 579 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH235177
- Parking
- NH220169
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · summit plateau 10%
From the public road end at Tomich/Cougie (NH220169), follow estate tracks south-west toward the Carn Glas-choire watershed, then strike west onto open moor. A pathless final pull onto the broad ridge gains the cairn. 13km return on the standard line, 579m of cumulative ascent — most of it on track but the final kilometre demanding.
Terrain
The Tomich/Cougie estate tracks are reasonable for biking the lower section. Above them, blanket bog and tussock with intermittent stalkers' paths. The summit is a small cairn on a flat plateau — the surrounding moor is featureless and demands compass discipline in cloud.
In winter
Plateau snow cover is variable but the long flat ridge becomes a navigational trap in poor visibility. The SAIS Northern Highlands area covers Affric directly. Cold easterly winds funnelling down from the watershed give serious wind-chill on the exposed cairn area — full storm shells are sensible even in marginal weather.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 0m
- Edinburgh3h 23m
OS maps: OS Landranger 34
Mobile signal: Patchy in Glen Affric; signal returns near the summit toward the Drumnadrochit transmitters.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:34
- Sunset
- 22:00
- Civil dawn
- 03:32
- Civil dusk
- 23:02
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Carn a' Chaochain on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Carn a' Chaochain — common questions
- How hard is Carn a' Chaochain?
- Carn a' Chaochain is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 579m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: The Tomich/Cougie estate tracks are reasonable for biking the lower section.
- Where do I park for Carn a' Chaochain?
- Standard parking is at NH220169 near Fort William. 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 Carn a' Chaochain?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn a' Chaochain 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 Carn a' Chaochain?
- 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 Carn a' Chaochain?
- Patchy in Glen Affric; signal returns near the summit toward the Drumnadrochit transmitters.
- Is Carn a' Chaochain safe in winter?
- Plateau snow cover is variable but the long flat ridge becomes a navigational trap in poor visibility. The SAIS Northern Highlands area covers Affric directly. Cold easterly winds funnelling down from the watershed give serious wind-chill on the exposed cairn area — full storm shells are sensible even in marginal weather.