Munro · Cairngorms
Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath
Càrn Liath (975m) — "grey hill" — is the southernmost and lowest of the three Beinn a' Ghlo Munros above Blair Atholl. It is the first summit reached on the standard north-bound traverse from Loch Moraig and gives the most accessible viewpoint of the celebrated three-Munro round. The summit cairn sits on a stony top with sweeping views west to the Cairngorm massif and south down Strath Tay. Almost always climbed as the start of the full Beinn a' Ghlo round.
Gaelic: “mountain, of the, cairn-topped hill, grey” · Pronunciation: bine uh ghlo karn lee-ah
Quick facts
- Height
- 975.8m/ 3201ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 859 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN936698
- Parking
- NN905671
- Nearest city
- Perth
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Forest / moorland path 35% · Mountain path 35% · Plateau / boulder field 30%
See Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain for the standard three-Munro Beinn a' Ghlo round from the Loch Moraig car park. Càrn Liath is the first summit, reached via its eroded south ridge — a long, sustained pull. From Càrn Liath, drop into the deep Bealach an Fhiodha and continue north to Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, then on to Càrn nan Gabhar. Càrn Liath alone is 9km return with 750m of ascent.
Terrain
The Loch Moraig estate track gives firm landrover surface on the lower approach. The well-known scar up Càrn Liath remains the hill's most photographed feature — a fan of bare stony channels widening with every wet winter. Above the first summit the going is broad turf and gravel. The descent into Bealach an Fhiodha is steep grass.
In winter
A serious Atholl winter Munro and the most accessible summit of the Beinn a' Ghlo round. The eroded south ridge holds drifted snow. The deep Bealach an Fhiodha collects wind-blown snow. Phone reception is absent above the treeline. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast area.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 20m
- Edinburgh2h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: No reliable signal above the treeline. The Loch Moraig start has very patchy reception. Càrn Liath demands offline mapping and self-sufficient navigation.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:26
- Sunset
- 22:02
- Civil dawn
- 03:22
- Civil dusk
- 23:06
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Around Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Blair Atholl station
Beinn a Ghlo; Glen Tilt corridor north to the Cairngorms
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Edradour
Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting
11km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath — common questions
- How hard is Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath?
- Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 859m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Loch Moraig estate track gives firm landrover surface on the lower approach.
- Where do I park for Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath?
- Standard parking is at NN905671 near Perth. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath 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 Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath?
- 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 Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath?
- No reliable signal above the treeline. The Loch Moraig start has very patchy reception. Càrn Liath demands offline mapping and self-sufficient navigation.
- Is Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath safe in winter?
- A serious Atholl winter Munro and the most accessible summit of the Beinn a' Ghlo round. The eroded south ridge holds drifted snow. The deep Bealach an Fhiodha collects wind-blown snow. Phone reception is absent above the treeline. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast area.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.