Munro · Cairngorms
Carn Aosda
Càrn Aosda (915m) — "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
- Prominence
- 122 m
- Grid ref
- NO133791
- Parking
- NO140780
- 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
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
- 04:56
- Sunset
- 21:45
- Civil dawn
- 04:00
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 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
- Is Carn Aosda a hard climb?
- Carn Aosda is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: Hard packed gravel and ski-piste under foot — fast easy walking.
- How much drop does Carn Aosda have?
- The drop is 122m: measured from the summit of Carn Aosda down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Carn Aosda?
- Park at NO140780. 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 Aosda?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn Aosda. 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 Aosda?
- 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 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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