Munro · Cairngorms
Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach
Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach — "cairn of the beautiful corrie" — is the 1110m Munro on the White Mounth plateau west of Lochnagar. The summit is a small cairn on a featureless expanse of granite gravel and arctic-alpine vegetation — among the broadest plateau summits in the country. The hill is rarely visited alone; almost every ascent forms part of a multi-Munro round with Lochnagar, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor and the other White Mounth peaks.
Gaelic: “cairn-topped hill, of the, corrie” · Pronunciation: karn uh chor-a bhoidheach
Quick facts
- Height
- 1109.9m/ 3641ft
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 977 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO226845
- Parking
- NO309851
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 57km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen track 35% · Open moorland 35% · Summit plateau 30%
The classic line is the Lochnagar / White Mounth round from Spittal of Glenmuick, traversing Lochnagar first then continuing west across the plateau to Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor and back. Around 24km return with 1100m of cumulative ascent for the full four-Munro plateau. The 18km/977m figures are for a single-summit out-and-back via the Allt na Giubhsaich.
Terrain
The Glenmuick paths are well-built NTS routes onto the plateau. The plateau itself is granite gravel and short alpine turf — featureless on a misty day, demanding compass-only navigation. The summit cairn is small and easy to miss without GPS. No exposure on the plateau but multiple cliff edges drop sharply into Coire na Cnaige and the Lochnagar corrie.
In winter
A serious winter day on featureless arctic plateau. The White Mounth in whiteout is a classic Scottish navigation challenge; the corrie rims around Lochnagar are corniced through the season. Balmoral keeps the Glen Muick approach road clear in most snow conditions. 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 52m
- Edinburgh2h 21m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: No signal on the White Mounth plateau. The Glen Muick road has intermittent coverage. Download maps in Ballater before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:19
- Sunset
- 22:09
- Civil dawn
- 03:11
- Civil dusk
- 23:16
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach.
Around Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Pitlochry station
Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery
38km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach — common questions
- How hard is Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach?
- Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 977m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Glenmuick paths are well-built NTS routes onto the plateau.
- Where do I park for Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach?
- Standard parking is at NO309851. 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 Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach 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 Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach?
- 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 Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach?
- No signal on the White Mounth plateau. The Glen Muick road has intermittent coverage. Download maps in Ballater before setting off.
- Is Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach safe in winter?
- A serious winter day on featureless arctic plateau. The White Mounth in whiteout is a classic Scottish navigation challenge; the corrie rims around Lochnagar are corniced through the season. Balmoral keeps the Glen Muick approach road clear in most snow conditions. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies.
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