Munro · Cairngorms
Carn Aosda
Càrn Aosda (917m) — "hill of age" — is widely regarded as the easiest Munro in Scotland, rising directly above the Glenshee ski centre car park on the A93. Ski tows reach almost to the summit and a worn track leads up under the chairlifts. The view from the small summit cairn looks across the rolling Mounth plateau to Glas Maol and Cairnwell.
Quick facts
- Height
- 915.3m/ 3003ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 805 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO133791
- Parking
- NO140780
- Nearest city
- Perth
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Open hillside / ski piste 70% · Summit area 30%
Park at the Glenshee ski centre on the high point of the A93 (1km of walking saved already by the road altitude). Walk north up the broad ski slope under the chairlifts on a stony track, gaining the summit ridge in about 45 minutes. Most parties combine with The Cairnwell across the road and Càrn a' Ghèoidh to the west. Around 4km return for the singleton with 350m of ascent.
Terrain
Hard packed gravel and ski-piste under foot — fast easy walking. The summit area is short turf and a small embedded cairn at the south-west edge of the broader top. The ski infrastructure (towers, fences) is a unique character — beautiful it is not, but a Munro it certainly is.
In winter
A surprisingly safe winter outing thanks to the ski-area infrastructure — the chairlifts give precise navigation aids in cloud. Cornices form on the north-east edge above Glas Maol's coire. SAIS Southern Cairngorms publishes for Glenshee. The A93 is the highest A-road in Britain and closes during heavy snow, but on operating days the ski centre car park is plowed.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 41m
- Edinburgh2h 15m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Good signal at the Glenshee ski area. Signal maintained on this low, accessible Munro.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:24
- Sunset
- 22:01
- Civil dawn
- 03:20
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn Aosda.
Around Carn Aosda 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
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Aosda — common questions
- How hard is Carn Aosda?
- Carn Aosda is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 805m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: Hard packed gravel and ski-piste under foot — fast easy walking.
- Where do I park for Carn Aosda?
- Standard parking is at NO140780 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 Carn Aosda?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Aosda 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 Aosda?
- 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 Aosda?
- Good signal at the Glenshee ski area. Signal maintained on this low, accessible Munro.
- Is Carn Aosda safe in winter?
- A surprisingly safe winter outing thanks to the ski-area infrastructure — the chairlifts give precise navigation aids in cloud. Cornices form on the north-east edge above Glas Maol's coire. SAIS Southern Cairngorms publishes for Glenshee. The A93 is the highest A-road in Britain and closes during heavy snow, but on operating days the ski centre car park is plowed.
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