Marilyn · kintail
Carn nam Bad
Carn nam Bad — cairn of the clumps or tufts — rises to 458m at NH 401 339 in the rolling country between Strathconon and Glen Orrin. The Gaelic bad denotes tussocky thickets, and that is exactly what dresses the lower hillside.
Quick facts
- Height
- 458.1m/ 1503ft
- Grid ref
- NH 40174 33913
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 29km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Approach from the dam at Loch Beannacharain in Strathconon. An estate track gives some height before pathless heather leads onto the broad rounded summit. About 4 hours for the out and back.
Terrain
The track gives a kilometre or so of easy walking; then it is dense tussock with hidden ditches. The summit dome itself is firm short heather and grass — the slog is in the middle ground.
In winter
Mid-altitude Strathconon hill where snow blows around rather than piling up. The frozen ground above 300m actually makes for the easiest walking of the year. Compass essential in cloud on the broad plateau.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 2m
- Edinburgh5h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 26, OS Explorer 431
Mobile signal: Poor. EE absent; nearest coverage near Dingwall or Inverness.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:21
- Sunset
- 22:18
- Civil dawn
- 03:10
- Civil dusk
- 23:28
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Carn nam Bad on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Inverness station
Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car
29km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
29km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn nam Bad — common questions
- How hard is Carn nam Bad?
- Carn nam Bad is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: The track gives a kilometre or so of easy walking; then it is dense tussock with hidden ditches.
- When is the best time to climb Carn nam Bad?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn nam Bad 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 Carn nam Bad?
- 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 Carn nam Bad?
- Poor. EE absent; nearest coverage near Dingwall or Inverness.
- Is Carn nam Bad safe in winter?
- Mid-altitude Strathconon hill where snow blows around rather than piling up. The frozen ground above 300m actually makes for the easiest walking of the year. Compass essential in cloud on the broad plateau.
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