Munro · Cairngorms
Carn a' Chlamain
Carn a' Chlamain (963m) is a stony, cairn-topped hill in the Cairngorms massif, Britain's highest and most arctic mountain landscape. Its 317m of re-ascent gives it a distinct identity — this is no subsidiary top but a hill worth visiting in its own right. The summit, marked by a cairn, gives views of the vast Cairngorm plateau, Speyside and the Moray Firth. The nearest town is Perth in Perth and Kinross.
Gaelic: “stony, cairn-topped hill” · Pronunciation: karn
Quick facts
- Height
- 963m/ 3161ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 848 m
- Time
- 4.8 hrs
- Difficulty
- 4 / 5Strenuous
- Grid ref
- NN915758
- Parking
- NN888802
- Nearest city
- Perth
Download GPX route file
Standard route · 17km
Standard route
The standard route is a longer walk with a gradual approach covering approximately 17km with 848m of total ascent — a full day on the hill. Lower slopes cross ancient Caledonian pine forest and heather moor. Higher up, the terrain changes to granite plateau and boulder fields with arctic-alpine vegetation. Well-maintained paths in popular corries give way to featureless plateau above — compass work is critical in cloud. The summit is marked by a cairn.
Terrain
Above 700m the ground is fully exposed to weather from all directions. Well-maintained paths in popular corries give way to featureless plateau above — compass work is critical in cloud. The connecting ridges to adjacent hills are well-defined but involve noticeable re-ascent.
In winter
In winter, Carn a' Chlamain is a serious proposition. Arctic conditions are possible year-round above 900m. The plateau is one of the most dangerous places in Britain in winter — whiteout, cornices and wind chill below -20°C are regular occurrences. Short winter days mean an early start is essential, particularly on longer routes.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 27m
- Edinburgh2h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:43
- Sunset
- 20:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:59
- Civil dusk
- 21:28
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 April 2026