Marilyn · Cairngorms
Craiglich
Craiglich is a 476m heather hill just north of Aboyne, easily-reached but surprisingly little-walked. Forest plantation cloaks the lower slopes while the upper hill is open moor with a broad outlook across Deeside to the eastern Cairngorms.
Quick facts
- Height
- 476m/ 1562ft
- Grid ref
- NJ 53307 05421
- Nearest city
- Aberdeen· 41km
- 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%
A forestry track from the B9094 near Tarland offers the easiest approach, winding up through plantation onto the open south flank. Around 6km return with 200m of ascent — under three hours at a relaxed pace.
Terrain
Good forest tracks on the lower hill. Heather and short grass above with the occasional rocky outcrop near the summit. Few wet sections.
In winter
Sheltered approach through plantation makes this a useful low-level winter option. Snow on the upper slopes is rarely deep but the trig point sits on an exposed crown.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 3m
- Edinburgh3h 15m
OS maps: OS Landranger 37, OS Explorer 059E, OS Explorer 405E
Mobile signal: Good. Aberdeenshire; EE reliable on summit. Good connectivity throughout.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:15
- Sunset
- 22:09
- Civil dawn
- 03:06
- Civil dusk
- 23:17
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Craiglich on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Stonehaven station
Dunnottar Castle; Aberdeenshire coast; Mearns walking country
39km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
30km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Craiglich — common questions
- How hard is Craiglich?
- Craiglich is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Good forest tracks on the lower hill.
- When is the best time to climb Craiglich?
- The standard good-weather months for Craiglich 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 Craiglich?
- 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 Craiglich?
- Good. Aberdeenshire; EE reliable on summit. Good connectivity throughout.
- Is Craiglich safe in winter?
- Sheltered approach through plantation makes this a useful low-level winter option. Snow on the upper slopes is rarely deep but the trig point sits on an exposed crown.
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