Munro · Cairngorms
Carn Bhac
Càrn Bhac (946m) — "hill of peat banks" — is one of the remoter Atholl Munros, sitting on the broad watershed between Glen Ey and the upper Geldie / Tilt country. The hill is invariably climbed alongside Beinn Iutharn Mhòr on a long bike-in expedition from Linn of Dee or via the Glen Ey track from Inverey. The summit is unremarkable but the position deep in the Atholl deer forest gives a real sense of remoteness.
Quick facts
- Height
- 945.1m/ 3101ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 832 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO051832
- Parking
- NO062898
- Nearest
- Perth· Inverness 73km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen track 45% · Open moorland 40% · Summit 15%
Cycle from Inverey on the South Deeside Road, taking the rough Glen Ey track south past the dramatic Colonel's Bed gorge to the Altanour Lodge ruins. From Altanour climb west onto Càrn Bhac directly via its broad north ridge. Most parties combine with Beinn Iutharn Mhòr to the south. Around 28km return with 850m of ascent, with bike approach.
Terrain
The Glen Ey landrover track gives firm fast surface for bike approach. Off the track the ground is rough heathery moor with peat hags. Càrn Bhac's north ridge climbs over broad mossy turf without a path. A small cairn marks the summit on a featureless mossy plateau. The connecting ridge south to Beinn Iutharn Mhòr is broad and boggy.
In winter
A long remote winter day. The Glen Ey track usually stays passable on bike or foot in normal conditions. The wide summit gathers heavy drift and gives little to navigate by in whiteout. There is no mobile reception throughout the hills. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies as the closest formal forecast. The Linn of Dee road is reliably gritted.
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 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: No signal above 750m on the Glenshee plateau east. Spittal of Glenshee has intermittent coverage. Download maps before setting off from Blairgowrie.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:24
- Sunset
- 22:02
- Civil dawn
- 03:20
- Civil dusk
- 23:06
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn Bhac.
Around Carn Bhac 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
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
27km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Bhac — common questions
- How hard is Carn Bhac?
- Carn Bhac is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 832m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Glen Ey landrover track gives firm fast surface for bike approach.
- Where do I park for Carn Bhac?
- Standard parking is at NO062898 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 Bhac?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Bhac 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 Bhac?
- 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 Bhac?
- No signal above 750m on the Glenshee plateau east. Spittal of Glenshee has intermittent coverage. Download maps before setting off from Blairgowrie.
- Is Carn Bhac safe in winter?
- A long remote winter day. The Glen Ey track usually stays passable on bike or foot in normal conditions. The wide summit gathers heavy drift and gives little to navigate by in whiteout. There is no mobile reception throughout the hills. SAIS Southern Cairngorms applies as the closest formal forecast. The Linn of Dee road is reliably gritted.
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