Marilyn · Cairngorms
Cairn William
Cairn William rises to 448m within the Forestry & Land Scotland-managed Pitfichie Forest, the western outlier of the Bennachie group. Its mountain biking trails are well-known to riders, but walkers find a fine summit cairn with views across to Mither Tap.
Quick facts
- Height
- 448m/ 1470ft
- Grid ref
- NJ 65618 16809
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 31km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 70% · grass slopes 20% · rocky summit 10%
From the Pitfichie Forest car park near Monymusk, signposted forest trails and mountain biking routes lead up through plantation onto the summit ridge. About 7km return with 280m of climb in 2.5-3 hours. The summit is open and gently rocky.
Terrain
Forest tracks and well-graded MTB trails make for fast walking. The final section to the cairn crosses heather and short grass. Watch for cyclists on shared sections.
In winter
Tree cover shelters most of the route from wind, making this a reliable winter walk. The summit ridge can be icy in cold spells but never seriously committing.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 37m
- Edinburgh4h 42m
OS maps: OS Landranger 38, OS Explorer 059E, OS Explorer 062E, OS Explorer 405E, OS Explorer 420E
Mobile signal: Good. EE signal reliable on this Aberdeenshire hill. Vodafone also works.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:13
- Sunset
- 22:09
- Civil dawn
- 03:04
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Cairn William on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Cairn William — common questions
- How hard is Cairn William?
- Cairn William is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Forest tracks and well-graded MTB trails make for fast walking.
- When is the best time to climb Cairn William?
- The standard good-weather months for Cairn William are March, 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 Cairn William?
- 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 Cairn William?
- Good. EE signal reliable on this Aberdeenshire hill. Vodafone also works.
- Is Cairn William safe in winter?
- Tree cover shelters most of the route from wind, making this a reliable winter walk. The summit ridge can be icy in cold spells but never seriously committing.
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