Graham · Cairngorms
Geallaig Hill
A heather-and-granite dome standing alone between Crathie and Ballater on the north side of the Dee, separated from Morven by the Gairn. The trig point sits inside a circular drystone shelter, a welcome sight in a wind from the Cairngorm plateau.
Quick facts
- Height
- 743.2m/ 2438ft
- Prominence
- 312 m
- Distance
- ~14 km
- Ascent
- ~609 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO297981
- Parking
- NO345970
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 65km
- 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% · heather moorland 45% · grassy upper slopes 15% · summit area 10%
Start at the bridge over the Gairn at Bridgend and use the Balmoral estate track climbing south-west through woodland and out onto the open moor. The track runs almost to the summit, finishing with a short heather stretch to the trig.
Terrain
Hard-surface Balmoral track for almost the full ascent. Final hundred metres on managed heather and bilberry around the shelter.
In winter
Frosted heather and ice on the track make winter ascent reasonable in cold settled weather. The summit shelter is a genuinely useful spot to brew up; main concern is wind chill on the exposed dome.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 53m
- Edinburgh3h 38m
OS maps: OS Landranger 37, OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal near Ballater; 2 bars up top
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:12
- Sunset
- 20:14
- Civil dawn
- 05:31
- Civil dusk
- 20:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Geallaig Hill.
Around Geallaig Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Aviemore station
Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore
43km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Geallaig Hill — common questions
- What difficulty is Geallaig Hill?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Geallaig Hill comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 14km and 609m of ascent on the usual route — 4-7 hours for most parties. Terrain: Hard-surface Balmoral track for almost the full ascent.
- How prominent is Geallaig Hill?
- Geallaig Hill has 312m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Geallaig Hill?
- Standard parking is at NO345970. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Geallaig Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Geallaig Hill 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 Geallaig Hill?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Geallaig Hill?
- Reasonable signal near Ballater; 2 bars up top
- Is Geallaig Hill safe in winter?
- Frosted heather and ice on the track make winter ascent reasonable in cold settled weather. The summit shelter is a genuinely useful spot to brew up; main concern is wind chill on the exposed dome.
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