Graham · Cairngorms
Hunt Hill
Hunt Hill (705m) sits at NO38 at the head of Glen Esk in Angus, on the south-eastern fringe of the Lochnagar uplands. Bare upland ground crowns a broad heather plateau with a wide view south down Glen Esk and north-east across to Mount Keen and the White Mounth. The hill's name reflects centuries of use as deer-stalking ground for the Dalhousie estate.
Quick facts
- Height
- 705.4m/ 2314ft
- Prominence
- 181 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 578 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO380805
- Parking
- NO381797
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 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).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 75% · grass and bilberry 15% · summit plateau 10%
From Invermark/Loch Lee at the road end of Glen Esk (NO381797), follow the stalkers' track north-west along the burn before climbing the broad south-east slope onto the plateau. 13km return, 578m climbed. The route is well-marked by quad tracks and tied-grass strips throughout.
Terrain
Estate tracks climb to roughly 500m through managed muirburn lines; above that the going is tussock studded with crowberry and bilberry. Bare-ground patches mark the high point — there is no formal cairn. Several confusing knolls await in cloud; a GPS waypoint earns its keep.
In winter
Southern Cairngorms snow regime applies — the SAIS forecast extends over Lochnagar nearby. Plateau-edge cornices form on the corrie heads to the north. Glen Esk roads can be impassable in heavy snow events, sometimes closing the route in altogether. Daylight is around seven hours in midwinter at this latitude.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 58m
- Edinburgh2h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: Reliable up top; strong EE and O2 with views down Glen Esk toward Edzell.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:44
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 03:45
- Civil dusk
- 22:51
NOAA Solar Calculator · 17 July 2026
Around Hunt Hill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Montrose station
East Angus coast; Montrose Basin nature reserve; Glen Esk approach
41km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
15km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
14km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Hunt Hill — common questions
- How hard is Hunt Hill?
- We grade Hunt Hill at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 13km with 578m of climbing; allow 4-6 hours. Ground conditions: Estate tracks climb to roughly 500m through managed muirburn lines; above that the going is tussock studded with crowberry and bilberry.
- How much drop does Hunt Hill have?
- The drop is 181m: measured from the summit of Hunt Hill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Hunt Hill?
- Park at NO381797. 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 Hunt Hill?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Hunt Hill. 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 Hunt Hill?
- 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 Hunt Hill?
- Reliable up top; strong EE and O2 with views down Glen Esk toward Edzell.
- Is Hunt Hill safe in winter?
- Southern Cairngorms snow regime applies — the SAIS forecast extends over Lochnagar nearby. Plateau-edge cornices form on the corrie heads to the north. Glen Esk roads can be impassable in heavy snow events, sometimes closing the route in altogether. Daylight is around seven hours in midwinter at this latitude.
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