Munro · Central Highlands
Carn Dearg
Càrn Dearg (941m) — the Corrour version, distinct from the several other Càrn Deargs — is the northern Munro of the Corrour pair, partnered with Sgòr Gaibhre to the south. The hill stands on the watershed between Loch Ossian and the upper Allt Eigheach, best reached by ScotRail train to Corrour halt on the West Highland Line. The summit gives commanding views across Rannoch Moor and north toward the Grey Corries.
Gaelic: “cairn-topped hill, red” · Pronunciation: karn jerr-ak
Quick facts
- Height
- 941m/ 3087ft
- Prominence
- 221 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 828 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN417661
- Parking
- NN356664
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 32km
- 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
Station track 20% · Open hillside 50% · Summit plateau 30%
See Sgòr Gaibhre for the standard Corrour pair route via the West Highland Line. After Sgòr Gaibhre, descend the broad north ridge to the bealach and continue north onto Càrn Dearg via its broad south ridge. The summit cairn is unusually tall on an otherwise modest top. Return to Corrour Station to catch the train. The pair total roughly 19km with around 1100m of climb.
Terrain
The Corrour Loch Ossian shore path is firm landrover surface for the lower section. Off the path the ground is rough heathery moor. The south ridge of Càrn Dearg is broad mossy turf and gravel — easy walking. The summit area has an unusually tall cairn at the high point. The connecting bealach to Sgòr Gaibhre is broad and grassy.
In winter
A serious remote Corrour winter day. The Corrour train service runs limited timetables and is weather-dependent; missed trains cause real problems. The wide summits accumulate deep drift and provide few features for whiteout navigation. There is no mobile reception throughout the area; SAIS Lochaber is the relevant forecast.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 10m
- Edinburgh3h 39m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Barely anything above 700m at Corrour. No road access — train only. Save maps before boarding the West Highland Line.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:01
- Sunset
- 21:49
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn Dearg.
Around Carn Dearg on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Corrour station
Highest mainline station; Loch Ossian, Ben Alder, Aonach Beag (Alder)
6km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Dearg — common questions
- What difficulty is Carn Dearg?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Carn Dearg comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 828m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Terrain: The Corrour Loch Ossian shore path is firm landrover surface for the lower section.
- How prominent is Carn Dearg?
- Carn Dearg has 221m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Carn Dearg?
- Standard parking is at NN356664. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Carn Dearg?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Dearg 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 Dearg?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Carn Dearg?
- Barely anything above 700m at Corrour. No road access — train only. Save maps before boarding the West Highland Line.
- Is Carn Dearg safe in winter?
- A serious remote Corrour winter day. The Corrour train service runs limited timetables and is weather-dependent; missed trains cause real problems. The wide summits accumulate deep drift and provide few features for whiteout navigation. There is no mobile reception throughout the area; SAIS Lochaber is the relevant forecast.
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