What difficulty is Carn a' Ghille Chearr?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn a' Ghille Chearr comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 582m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Estate landrover tracks reach about 550m on burned-strip heather, then the upper plateau is on bilberry, moss and granite chips.

What is Carn a' Ghille Chearr's prominence?

179m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Carn a' Ghille Chearr to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Carn a' Ghille Chearr?

Most walkers start from NJ121271. 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 Carn a' Ghille Chearr?

April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Carn a' Ghille Chearr. 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 Carn a' Ghille Chearr dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary Innes

Photo: Anne Burgess / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Cairngorms

Carn a' Ghille Chearr

Carn a' Ghille Chearr (710m) — the cairn of the wrong lad — is the high point of the Cromdale Hills at NJ13, a broad granite ridge between Strathspey and Glenlivet. The trig pillar perches on a long whaleback of heather and granite, looking down on the Battle of Cromdale ground of 1690 and across Speyside to Cairn Gorm and Bynack More. The ridge offers some of the loneliest grouse-moor walking outside the central Cairngorms.

Quick facts

Height: 710.2m/ 2330ft
Prominence: 179 m
Distance: 13 km
Ascent: 582 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NJ139298
Parking: NJ121271
Nearest city: Inverness· 50km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · summit plateau 10%

13km · 582m ascent · 3.6 hrs

From the Tomintoul road parking near Bridge of Brown (NJ121271), a long estate track climbs steadily south onto the broad ridge crest. The summit lies near the south end of an undulating roof of heather and bog. 13km return on the standard out-and-back, 582m climbed. A traverse from Cromdale village in Strathspey makes a longer linear option with car-shuttle.

Terrain

Estate landrover tracks reach about 550m on burned-strip heather, then the upper plateau is on bilberry, moss and granite chips. The summit dome carries a small ring of stones around the trig. Bog patches drain slowly between the heather strips — gaiters help year-round.

In winter

The trig is a useful visibility check in cloud, but pacing-and-compass discipline is essential on the broad ridge.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Carn a' Ghille Chearr. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 20m
Edinburgh3h 0m

Parking: NJ121271

OS maps: OS Landranger 36

Mobile signal: Mixed. EE unreliable on top; better on west-facing slopes toward Strathspey.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

16h 45mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:41
Sunset: 20:55
Civil dawn: 04:56
Civil dusk: 21:41

NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 August 2026

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Around Carn a' Ghille Chearr on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Aviemore station

Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore

30km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Dufftown

Speyside whisky town in the eastern Cairngorms

21km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Cragganmore

Ballindalloch — quietly excellent Speysider; Classic Malts visitor experience

7km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Carn a' Ghille Chearr — common questions

What difficulty is Carn a' Ghille Chearr?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn a' Ghille Chearr comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 582m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Estate landrover tracks reach about 550m on burned-strip heather, then the upper plateau is on bilberry, moss and granite chips.
What is Carn a' Ghille Chearr's prominence?: 179m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Carn a' Ghille Chearr to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Carn a' Ghille Chearr?: Most walkers start from NJ121271. 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 Carn a' Ghille Chearr?: April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Carn a' Ghille Chearr. 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 Carn a' Ghille Chearr 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 Carn a' Ghille Chearr?: Mixed. EE unreliable on top; better on west-facing slopes toward Strathspey.
Is Carn a' Ghille Chearr safe in winter?: The trig is a useful visibility check in cloud, but pacing-and-compass discipline is essential on the broad ridge.

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