Graham · Cairngorms
Corwharn
Corwharn (609m) is a broad heather rise above Glen Prosen in the NO26 square, on the southern fringe of the Cairngorms National Park in Angus. The summit is essentially unmarked — a small swell of ground at the high point of a long undulating ridge. The view sweeps from the line of Driesh and Mayar down across the eastern Angus glens to the Strathmore plain and the Sidlaws.
Quick facts
- Height
- 609.1m/ 1998ft
- Prominence
- 153 m
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 457 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO288651
- Parking
- NO262674
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 36km
- 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% · rocky summit 10%
From parking at NO262674 in upper Glen Prosen, follow the estate hill track north onto the open moor. The track climbs steadily, swinging east as it gains height. Above the track's high point a short walk on heather leads to the broad summit. Round trip about four hours; the descent is back along the track.
Terrain
A good estate hill track gives most of the climb on firm ground. Above the track the going is short managed heather and bilberry. The summit is broad and unmarked — keep east of north on a bearing to identify the high point in cloud.
In winter
Angus catches its share of east-coast cold and Corwharn's broad summit drifts deeply when easterlies blow. The estate track ices over in shaded sections. With no shelter on the summit, wind chill becomes the main hazard — judge by the freezing level and wind forecast for nearby Glas Maol.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 35m
- Edinburgh2h 56m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: Variable. EE only occasional here; better on southerly aspects toward Angus glens.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:39
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Corwharn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dunkeld & Birnam station
Birnam Hill, Hermitage walks, southern Perthshire gateway
34km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Corwharn — common questions
- What difficulty is Corwharn?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Corwharn comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 12km and 457m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: A good estate hill track gives most of the climb on firm ground.
- How much drop does Corwharn have?
- The drop is 153m: measured from the summit of Corwharn down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Corwharn?
- Park at NO262674. 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 Corwharn?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November on Corwharn. 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 Corwharn?
- 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 Corwharn?
- Variable. EE only occasional here; better on southerly aspects toward Angus glens.
- Is Corwharn safe in winter?
- Angus catches its share of east-coast cold and Corwharn's broad summit drifts deeply when easterlies blow. The estate track ices over in shaded sections. With no shelter on the summit, wind chill becomes the main hazard — judge by the freezing level and wind forecast for nearby Glas Maol.
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