How hard is Bennachie - Oxen Craig?

We grade Bennachie - Oxen Craig at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Underfoot: Outstanding paths throughout — granite gravel on the open ridge, well-drained forest tracks below.

What is Bennachie - Oxen Craig's prominence?

314m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Bennachie - Oxen Craig to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

When is the best time to climb Bennachie - Oxen Craig?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Bennachie - Oxen Craig. 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 Bennachie - Oxen Craig dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: thejackrustles / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Cairngorms

Bennachie - Oxen Craig

Oxen Craig is the highest point of Bennachie, the granite ridge whose distinctive silhouette dominates the central Aberdeenshire landscape. While Mither Tap to the east is the famous tor-crowned summit, this 529m top is the true high point of one of Scotland's most-loved local hills.

Quick facts

Height: 529m/ 1736ft
Prominence: 314 m
Difficulty: 2 / 5Moderate
Grid ref: NJ 66281 22591
Nearest city: Aberdeen· 32km
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 50% · granite tors 30% · woodland paths 20%

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Excellent waymarked paths radiate from the Bennachie Centre and several other Forestry car parks. Most walkers take the Heather Brig path up through pine plantation onto the ridge, then continue west over open moor to the cairn at Oxen Craig. A 3-4 hour outing combining well with Mither Tap.

Terrain

Outstanding paths throughout — granite gravel on the open ridge, well-drained forest tracks below. Some loose stone underfoot near the summit. Erosion-prone in places due to popularity.

In winter

Snow and ice can linger on the exposed ridge. The paths are usable in most conditions but careful footing is needed if frozen. A genuine winter destination in heavy snow.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Bennachie - Oxen Craig. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow6h 44m
Edinburgh4h 50m

OS maps: OS Landranger 38, OS Explorer 062E, OS Explorer 420E, OS Explorer 421W

Mobile signal: Excellent signal on summit; strong EE, Vodafone and O2. Telecom mast on the hill.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 14mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:38
Sunset: 19:34
Civil dawn: 05:59
Civil dusk: 20:13

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

Bennachie - Oxen Craig weather: forecast, wind exposure and winter notes →

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Around Bennachie - Oxen Craig on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Stonehaven station

Dunnottar Castle; Aberdeenshire coast; Mearns walking country

42km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Dufftown

Speyside whisky town in the eastern Cairngorms

38km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Bennachie - Oxen Craig — common questions

How hard is Bennachie - Oxen Craig?: We grade Bennachie - Oxen Craig at 2/5, which puts it in moderate territory. Underfoot: Outstanding paths throughout — granite gravel on the open ridge, well-drained forest tracks below.
What is Bennachie - Oxen Craig's prominence?: 314m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Bennachie - Oxen Craig to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
When is the best time to climb Bennachie - Oxen Craig?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Bennachie - Oxen Craig. 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 Bennachie - Oxen Craig 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 Bennachie - Oxen Craig?: Excellent signal on summit; strong EE, Vodafone and O2. Telecom mast on the hill.
Is Bennachie - Oxen Craig safe in winter?: Snow and ice can linger on the exposed ridge. The paths are usable in most conditions but careful footing is needed if frozen. A genuine winter destination in heavy snow.

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