Munro · Cairngorms
Carn a' Chlamain
Càrn a' Chlamain (963m) — "hill of the buzzard" — is a remote Atholl Munro standing alone in the wild interior north of Glen Tilt. The hill sits on the broad watershed between Glen Tilt to the south and the upper Geldie country to the north, making it one of the more inconveniently positioned Munros. The standard approach is a long bike-in or walk via Glen Tilt from Blair Atholl.
Quick facts
- Height
- 963.5m/ 3161ft
- Prominence
- 317 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 848 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN915758
- Parking
- NN874664
- Nearest city
- Perth· 56km
- 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
Forest / moorland path 35% · Mountain path 35% · Plateau / boulder field 30%
Cycle or walk from Blair Atholl up the long Glen Tilt estate track — around 11km of firm landrover surface to the side track that climbs north onto the Càrn a' Chlamain ridge. From the track end, a faint path climbs north up grassy slopes onto the broad summit ridge and the cairn. Return reverses the line. Bike-in cuts the day dramatically; on foot allow 12+ hours. Around 30km return with 920m of ascent on bike.
Terrain
The Glen Tilt estate landrover track is firm and excellent for bikes — among the longest sustained landrover approaches in Scotland. Off the track the ground turns to rough heather and short grass with no clear path. The summit area of Càrn a' Chlamain is broad mossy turf with a small cairn at the high point. Navigation across the broad summit in cloud requires confident map work.
In winter
A long winter day demanding real commitment because of the distance. In normal conditions the Glen Tilt track stays passable on bike or foot. The broad open summit gathers wind-blown snow and offers little to navigate by in whiteout. There is no phone signal anywhere on the hills; the relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 27m
- Edinburgh2h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: No steady signal above the trees. Blair Atholl has reasonable 4G but the long Glen Tilt approach loses coverage quickly. Càrn a' Chlamain demands offline mapping and self-sufficient navigation.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:57
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:02
- Civil dusk
- 22:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Carn a' Chlamain 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
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
17km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Edradour
Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting
17km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn a' Chlamain — common questions
- What difficulty is Carn a' Chlamain?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn a' Chlamain comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 17km and 848m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Ground conditions: The Glen Tilt estate landrover track is firm and excellent for bikes — among the longest sustained landrover approaches in Scotland.
- How much drop does Carn a' Chlamain have?
- The drop is 317m: measured from the summit of Carn a' Chlamain down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Carn a' Chlamain?
- Park at NN874664. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Carn a' Chlamain?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn a' Chlamain. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Carn a' Chlamain?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Carn a' Chlamain?
- No steady signal above the trees. Blair Atholl has reasonable 4G but the long Glen Tilt approach loses coverage quickly. Càrn a' Chlamain demands offline mapping and self-sufficient navigation.
- Is Carn a' Chlamain safe in winter?
- A long winter day demanding real commitment because of the distance. In normal conditions the Glen Tilt track stays passable on bike or foot. The broad open summit gathers wind-blown snow and offers little to navigate by in whiteout. There is no phone signal anywhere on the hills; the relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms.
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