Graham · Central Highlands
Creag Dhubh
A craggy ridge rising directly above the A86 west of Newtonmore, famous as the rallying-cry hill of Clan Macpherson and adorned with broken crag faces well known to rock climbers. The compact summit ridge gives a stunning ground-level view across the upper Spey to the Cairngorms.
Gaelic: “crag, black” · Pronunciation: krayg goo
Quick facts
- Height
- 752.9m/ 2470ft
- Prominence
- 388 m
- Distance
- ~14 km
- Ascent
- ~617 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN677972
- Parking
- NN688957
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 48km
- 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
moorland path 25% · heather hillside 45% · rocky upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Most parties park at the layby east of Lochan Ovie and tackle the steep crag-bordered south flank by zigzagging up rakes between buttresses, before a short walk along the ridge to the summit. A traverse east-to-west or west-to-east is the usual outing.
Terrain
Steep heather between rock bands on ascent — care needed picking a line. The ridge itself is short, grassy and easy. Some greasy slabs in wet weather.
In winter
Verglas on the rakes between the crag bands turns this into a serious mixed proposition. Sub-800m height means snow cover is intermittent and conditions change hour by hour as fronts sweep up the Spey.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 48m
- Edinburgh3h 54m
OS maps: OS Landranger 35, OS Explorer 401
Mobile signal: Intermittent signal near Newtonmore; brief coverage on the summit
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:16
- Sunset
- 20:18
- Civil dawn
- 05:35
- Civil dusk
- 20:59
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Creag Dhubh.
Around Creag Dhubh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kingussie station
Cairngorms south side; Glen Feshie; Insh Marshes; Monadhliath access
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Newtonmore
Creag Meagaidh and Monadhliath access, Wildcat trails
4km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Creag Dhubh — common questions
- How hard is Creag Dhubh?
- We grade Creag Dhubh at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 14km with 617m of climbing; allow 4-7 hours. Underfoot: Steep heather between rock bands on ascent — care needed picking a line.
- What is Creag Dhubh's prominence?
- 388m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Creag Dhubh to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Creag Dhubh?
- Most walkers start from NN688957. 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 Creag Dhubh?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Creag Dhubh. 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 Creag Dhubh 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 Creag Dhubh?
- Intermittent signal near Newtonmore; brief coverage on the summit
- Is Creag Dhubh safe in winter?
- Verglas on the rakes between the crag bands turns this into a serious mixed proposition. Sub-800m height means snow cover is intermittent and conditions change hour by hour as fronts sweep up the Spey.
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