Munro · Central Highlands
A' Bhuidheanach Bheag
A' Bhuidheanach Bheag (936m) — "the little yellow place" — is the southern of the two eastern Drumochter Munros (with Càrn na Caim), a vast featureless plateau hill east of the A9 pass. The summit is barely a defined high point — just bare ground on a broad mossy table. Most often climbed alongside Càrn na Caim on a quick Drumochter ticking day, or as a fast solo when the western Munros are weathered out.
Gaelic: “of the, small” · Pronunciation: uh bhuidheanach vek
Quick facts
- Height
- 936m/ 3071ft
- Prominence
- 109 m
- Distance
- ~19 km
- Ascent
- ~824 m
- Time
- 5–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN660775
- Parking
- NN632792
- Nearest
- Fort William· Inverness 68km
- 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
A9 path 20% · Open hillside 45% · Summit plateau 35%
See Càrn na Caim for the standard pair route from Drumochter. A' Bhuidheanach Bheag is reached from the high plateau by walking south-east across the broad mossy expanse — about 2km of nearly featureless ground. Confident map work essential in cloud. The pair total roughly 19km with 820m of climb.
Terrain
The Drumochter access track and high plateau are shared with Càrn na Caim. The traverse south-east from Càrn na Caim across the broad mossy plateau requires confident bearings. The summit area of A' Bhuidheanach Bheag is among the most featureless of any Munro — bare ground at the high point with no real cairn. The descent reverses the line.
In winter
A serious open-plateau Drumochter winter Munro despite the modest difficulty grade. The featureless summit area is fully exposed to easterly continental weather and demands confident whiteout navigation. The A9 corridor stays reliably gritted; the lay-by ices over.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 23m
- Edinburgh3h 32m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Good signal at the Drumochter car park. Signal drops off above 850m but is reasonable by Highland standards due to the A9 transmitters.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:31
- Sunset
- 19:59
- Civil dawn
- 05:51
- Civil dusk
- 20:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from A' Bhuidheanach Bheag.
Around A' Bhuidheanach Bheag on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Newtonmore
Creag Meagaidh and Monadhliath access, Wildcat trails
22km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
A' Bhuidheanach Bheag — common questions
- What difficulty is A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, A' Bhuidheanach Bheag comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 19km and 824m of ascent on the usual route — 5-6 hours for most parties. Terrain: The Drumochter access track and high plateau are shared with Càrn na Caim.
- How prominent is A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- A' Bhuidheanach Bheag has 109m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- Standard parking is at NN632792 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- The standard good-weather months for A' Bhuidheanach Bheag are 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 A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on A' Bhuidheanach Bheag?
- Good signal at the Drumochter car park. Signal drops off above 850m but is reasonable by Highland standards due to the A9 transmitters.
- Is A' Bhuidheanach Bheag safe in winter?
- A serious open-plateau Drumochter winter Munro despite the modest difficulty grade. The featureless summit area is fully exposed to easterly continental weather and demands confident whiteout navigation. The A9 corridor stays reliably gritted; the lay-by ices over.
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