What difficulty is Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 16km and 500m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Pathless throughout.

How much drop does Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan have?

The drop is 333m: measured from the summit of Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?

Park at NH779225. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.

What's the best month to climb Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?

Aim for April, May, June, September, October on Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.

Can dogs go up Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Andrew Spenceley / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Cairngorms

Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan

Quiet Graham in the Findhorn hills north of the Cairngorms. Long approaches and rolling moorland make this one for solitude-seekers, with red grouse and golden plover for company on the way to the cairn of the three lairds.

Quick facts

Height: 614.8m/ 2017ft
Prominence: 333 m
Distance: ~16 km
Ascent: ~500 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 2 / 5Moderate
Grid ref: NH823390
Parking: NH779225
Nearest city: Inverness· 17km
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

estate track 30% · bog and heather 45% · grassy plateau 15% · summit area 10%

16km · 500m ascent · 6 hrs

Long walk from the dead-end road in Strathdearn. Pathless heather and peat hags lead eventually to the summit cairn. Best tackled when the ground is dry or frozen; in wet weather the upper moss between burns becomes hard work.

Terrain

Pathless throughout. Heather, peat hags, no obvious line. Compass essential in cloud.

In winter

Easier going on frozen ground than in summer. Whiteout navigation territory.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan. 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

Glasgow4h 35m
Edinburgh4h 35m

Parking: NH779225

OS maps: OS Explorer OL56

Mobile signal: Nothing in this remote Monadhliath area

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 48mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:47
Sunset: 18:17
Civil dawn: 07:08
Civil dusk: 18:56

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Inverness station

Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car

17km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Inverness

Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North

17km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Tomatin

Tomatin — large Highland distillery just off the A9, south of Inverness

10km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan — common questions

What difficulty is Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 16km and 500m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: Pathless throughout.
How much drop does Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan have?: The drop is 333m: measured from the summit of Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?: Park at NH779225. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
What's the best month to climb Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?: Aim for April, May, June, September, October on Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
Can dogs go up Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?: Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
Will I get phone signal on Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan?: Nothing in this remote Monadhliath area
Is Carn nan Tri-Tighearnan safe in winter?: Easier going on frozen ground than in summer. Whiteout navigation territory.

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