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
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 578 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO380805
- Parking
- NO381797
- Nearest city
- Dundee
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
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: Good signal on summit; strong EE and O2 with views down Glen Esk toward Edzell.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:29
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 22:51
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Hunt Hill.
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?
- Hunt Hill is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 578m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: Estate tracks climb to roughly 500m through managed muirburn lines; above that the going is tussock studded with crowberry and bilberry.
- Where do I park for Hunt Hill?
- Standard parking is at NO381797 near Dundee. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Hunt Hill?
- The standard good-weather months for Hunt 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 Hunt Hill?
- 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 Hunt Hill?
- Good signal on summit; 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.