Munro · Cairngorms
Beinn Bhreac
Beinn Bhreac (931m) — "speckled hill" — is the quieter eastern Munro of the Cairngorms, sitting north-east of Ben Macdui above the upper end of Glen Derry. Almost always paired with Beinn a' Chaorainn (Cairngorms) on a long day from Linn of Dee, the hill provides a peaceful alternative to the busy central Cairngorms summits. The Glen Derry approach passes through some of the finest surviving Caledonian pinewood in Scotland.
Quick facts
- Height
- 930.3m/ 3052ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 819 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO058970
- Parking
- NO062898
- Nearest
- Inverness· Inverness 62km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Estate track 30% · Open hillside 45% · Summit plateau 25%
Park at the Linn of Dee NTS car park and cycle the 5km of estate road north-west to Derry Lodge — bikes save a great deal of time. From the lodge take the Glen Derry footpath through the surviving pinewood, then break west up onto the broad south ridge after about 3km. Most days continue across the Moine Bhealaidh to Beinn a' Chaorainn. Around 26km return with 1100m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
The Lui estate track is firm landrover surface. The Glen Derry path is rougher but well-trodden through the pines. Climbing onto the south ridge involves rough heather and intermittent path; the upper hillside is short cropped grass. The summit is a wide rounded plateau marked by a modest cairn. Beyond, the Moine Bhealaidh linking to Beinn a' Chaorainn is famously among the wettest stretches of moor in the Cairngorms.
In winter
A long Cairngorms winter day. The Glen Derry approach in deep snow is slow and committing. The Moine Bhealaidh between Beinn Bhreac and Beinn a' Chaorainn drifts heavily and can be slow under foot. The Linn of Dee road is gritted in normal conditions. Phone reception absent throughout. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 58m
- Edinburgh3h 39m
OS maps: OS Landranger 36, OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: No signal above 800m in the Glen Derry area. Linn of Dee has occasional signal. Download maps in Braemar before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:23
- Sunset
- 22:03
- Civil dawn
- 03:18
- Civil dusk
- 23:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Bhreac.
Around Beinn Bhreac on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Aviemore station
Cairngorm plateau; Lairig Ghru; Speyside Way; Glenmore
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
23km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Bhreac — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Bhreac?
- Beinn Bhreac is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 819m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Lui estate track is firm landrover surface.
- Where do I park for Beinn Bhreac?
- Standard parking is at NO062898 near Inverness. 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 Bhreac?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Bhreac 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 Bhreac?
- 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 Bhreac?
- No signal above 800m in the Glen Derry area. Linn of Dee has occasional signal. Download maps in Braemar before setting off.
- Is Beinn Bhreac safe in winter?
- A long Cairngorms winter day. The Glen Derry approach in deep snow is slow and committing. The Moine Bhealaidh between Beinn Bhreac and Beinn a' Chaorainn drifts heavily and can be slow under foot. The Linn of Dee road is gritted in normal conditions. Phone reception absent throughout. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies.
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