Munro · Central Highlands
Carn Liath
Carn Liath (1006m) is grey, a stony, cairn-topped hill in the rolling moorland of the Central Highlands. It shares ridgeline connections with neighbouring hills, making it a natural addition to a longer day combining two or three summits. The summit, marked by a large cairn, gives views of wide panoramas across the Highland interior toward the Cairngorms and the west coast. The nearest town is Fort William in Highland.
Gaelic: “stony, cairn-topped hill, grey” · Pronunciation: karn lee-ah
Quick facts
- Height
- 1006m/ 3301ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 885 m
- Time
- 4.9 hrs
- Difficulty
- 4 / 5Strenuous
- Grid ref
- NN472903
- Parking
- NN46269016
- Nearest city
- Fort William
Download GPX route file
Standard route · 17km
Standard route
The standard route is a longer walk with a gradual approach covering approximately 17km with 885m of total ascent — a full day on the hill. Lower slopes cross blanket bog, rough grass and heather on broad open moor. Higher up, the terrain changes to rounded summits of peat and short grass, occasionally rocky. Stalkers' paths and landrover tracks provide the main access — above them, the ground is open and featureless. The summit is marked by a large cairn.
Terrain
Above 700m the ground is fully exposed to weather from all directions. Stalkers' paths and landrover tracks provide the main access — above them, the ground is open and featureless. Good ridge connections to neighbouring summits make multi-hill days a natural option.
In winter
In winter, Carn Liath is a serious proposition. Exposed to persistent cold winds. Snow cover is less reliable than the west but drifting can be severe on the open plateau. Short winter days mean an early start is essential, particularly on longer routes.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 40m
- Edinburgh3h 59m
OS maps: OS Landranger 34
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:45
- Sunset
- 20:47
- Civil dawn
- 05:01
- Civil dusk
- 21:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 April 2026