Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Carn Mor Dearg
Càrn Mòr Dearg — "the big red cairn" — is the 1220m Munro immediately east of Ben Nevis, separated from it by the long curving CMD Arête. The hill is the eighth-highest in Britain but rarely climbed for its own sake; almost every visit comes as half of a classic ridge round with Ben Nevis. The summit is a small cairn on a knife-edge crest of pink granite blocks. The view west across the Allt a' Mhuilinn glen onto the great north face of Ben Nevis — Tower Ridge, Observatory Buttress, North-East Buttress — is one of the great mountain panoramas in Britain.
Gaelic: “cairn-topped hill, big, red” · Pronunciation: karn more jerr-ak
Quick facts
- Height
- 1220m/ 4003ft
- Distance
- 19 km
- Ascent
- 1074 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN177721
- Parking
- NN144764
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Good path 35% · Open hillside 25% · Exposed rocky ridge 40%
The classic line is the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête round from the North Face car park at Torlundy. Climb the Allt a' Mhuilinn path past the CIC Hut, contour into Coire Leis at the back of Ben Nevis, then traverse the curving CMD Arête (a Grade 1 scramble) to the Càrn Mòr Dearg summit. Return either by reversing the arête over Ben Nevis or descending direct. Around 19km return with 1074m of net ascent; the full Nevis-and-CMD round adds a Munro and 350m.
Terrain
The Allt a' Mhuilinn approach track is firm gravel to the CIC Hut. The traverse into Coire Leis is rough boulder hopping. The CMD Arête is a 1km knife-edge of pink granite blocks with serious exposure on both sides — confident scrambling required, no rope but a head for heights essential. The Càrn Mòr Dearg summit cairn is on a narrow crest with the steep south-east face dropping into Glen Nevis.
In winter
The CMD Arête under snow and ice is a classic Grade I winter ridge — and one of the most beautiful when in condition. The east face of Càrn Mòr Dearg holds Grade III-V winter climbs. The traverse into Coire Leis is avalanche-prone after westerly storms. Cornicing along the arête is consistent through the winter. For experienced winter mountaineers only.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 26m
- Edinburgh3h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Moderate signal at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. Coverage drops on the approach via the Allt a Mhuilinn. No reliable signal above 900m.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:31
- Sunset
- 22:07
- Civil dawn
- 03:27
- Civil dusk
- 23:10
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn Mor Dearg.
Around Carn Mor Dearg on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
7km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
7km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
7km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn Mor Dearg — common questions
- How hard is Carn Mor Dearg?
- Carn Mor Dearg is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 19km with 1074m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Allt a' Mhuilinn approach track is firm gravel to the CIC Hut.
- Where do I park for Carn Mor Dearg?
- Standard parking is at NN144764 near Fort William. 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 Mor Dearg?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn Mor 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 Mor Dearg?
- 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 Mor Dearg?
- Moderate signal at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre. Coverage drops on the approach via the Allt a Mhuilinn. No reliable signal above 900m.
- Is Carn Mor Dearg safe in winter?
- The CMD Arête under snow and ice is a classic Grade I winter ridge — and one of the most beautiful when in condition. The east face of Càrn Mòr Dearg holds Grade III-V winter climbs. The traverse into Coire Leis is avalanche-prone after westerly storms. Cornicing along the arête is consistent through the winter. For experienced winter mountaineers only.
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