Munro · Central Highlands
Carn na Caim
Càrn na Caim (941m) — "hill of the curve" — is one of the two eastern Drumochter Munros (with A' Bhuidheanach Bheag) on the high broad plateau east of the A9 pass. The hill is one of the shortest direct Munro ascents in Scotland — barely 4km from the A9 lay-by — but the broad featureless summit demands serious navigation in cloud. A popular quick winter Munro tick when the west coast is weathered out.
Quick facts
- Height
- 940.8m/ 3087ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 828 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN677821
- Parking
- NN632792
- Nearest
- Fort William· Inverness 63km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
A9 path 20% · Open hillside 45% · Summit plateau 35%
Park at the small lay-by on the A9 at Drumochter (north of Dalwhinnie). Take the rough estate landrover track east up the glen, climbing onto the broad Drumochter plateau. Continue north-east across the broad mossy plateau to the Càrn na Caim summit cairn. Most parties also take in A' Bhuidheanach Bheag to the south. Around 12km return with 530m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
The Drumochter access track is firm landrover surface for the rapid climb to the plateau. Above 700m the going turns to broad mossy turf and gravel — easy walking but completely featureless. The Càrn na Caim summit cairn sits inconspicuously at the high point of a wide flat top. Navigation across the broad plateau in cloud requires confident map-and-compass technique.
In winter
A serious open-plateau winter Munro despite the quick access. The broad summit is fully exposed to easterly continental weather; whiteout navigation across the featureless plateau is the principal challenge. The A9 at Drumochter stays reliably gritted, though the lay-by glazes with ice. The relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 29m
- Edinburgh3h 37m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Good signal at the Drumochter car park. Above 850m signal weakens but the A9 corridor provides better coverage than most Highland glens.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:27
- Sunset
- 22:04
- Civil dawn
- 03:22
- Civil dusk
- 23:09
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Carn na Caim.
Around Carn na Caim on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
5km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
35km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
5km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Carn na Caim — common questions
- How hard is Carn na Caim?
- Carn na Caim is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 828m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Drumochter access track is firm landrover surface for the rapid climb to the plateau.
- Where do I park for Carn na Caim?
- Standard parking is at NN632792 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 na Caim?
- The standard good-weather months for Carn na Caim 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 na Caim?
- 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 na Caim?
- Good signal at the Drumochter car park. Above 850m signal weakens but the A9 corridor provides better coverage than most Highland glens.
- Is Carn na Caim safe in winter?
- A serious open-plateau winter Munro despite the quick access. The broad summit is fully exposed to easterly continental weather; whiteout navigation across the featureless plateau is the principal challenge. The A9 at Drumochter stays reliably gritted, though the lay-by glazes with ice. The relevant avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.