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
- Prominence
- 162 m
- Distance
- 19 km
- Ascent
- 1074 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN177721
- Parking
- NN144764
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 7km
- 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
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
- 05:02
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 04:08
- Civil dusk
- 22:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 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
- Is Carn Mor Dearg a hard climb?
- 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. Ground conditions: The Allt a' Mhuilinn approach track is firm gravel to the CIC Hut.
- How much drop does Carn Mor Dearg have?
- The drop is 162m: measured from the summit of Carn Mor Dearg down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Carn Mor Dearg?
- Park at NN144764. 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 Mor Dearg?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Carn Mor Dearg. 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 Mor Dearg?
- 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 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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