Munro · Cairngorms
Mayar
Mayar (928m) is the lower and quieter half of the popular Glen Doll pair, set on the southern edge of the Mounth plateau above the dramatic crag-rimmed bowl of Corrie Fee. The summit is a flat broad top with a modest cairn just above the western lip of the corrie. While Driesh draws most of the traffic, Mayar gives a more sheltered character and the finer position above the headwall.
Quick facts
- Height
- 928.6m/ 3047ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 817 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO240737
- Parking
- NO283762
- Nearest city
- Dundee
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen path / Corrie Fee path 40% · Corrie headwall 25% · Summit plateau 35%
From the Glen Doll Forestry Commission car park, follow waymarks for the Kilbo path north into the trees, then strike west into Corrie Fee on the restored stone steps. Climb the south-west headwall on the steep Shank of Drumfollow zig-zags onto the Mounth plateau, then traverse east to the Mayar cairn. Most parties continue across to Driesh and descend Kilbo for a circular round of about 14km and 850m.
Terrain
The lower Glen Doll forest tracks give fast firm walking. Corrie Fee's stone-pitched path through the NNR is a beautiful piece of trail engineering. The Shank zig-zags rise steeply on grass and rocky steps. The summit plateau is featureless cropped moss and demands precise compass bearings in poor visibility.
In winter
A genuinely committing Angus winter Munro despite its modest height. The Corrie Fee headwall has a long avalanche record — wind-loaded slab on east-facing ground after south-westerly storms is the principal hazard. Cornicing along the corrie rim persists through the season. SAIS Southern Cairngorms covers the area. Glen Doll road is gritted; mobile signal disappears in the corrie.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 41m
- Edinburgh2h 7m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: No signal above 750m in the Corrie Fee area. Glen Clova has intermittent 4G. The Glen Doll car park is at the limit of coverage. Download maps before setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:23
- Sunset
- 22:00
- Civil dawn
- 03:20
- Civil dusk
- 23:04
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Mayar.
Around Mayar on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Pitlochry station
Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery
33km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
26km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
17km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Mayar — common questions
- How hard is Mayar?
- Mayar is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 817m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The lower Glen Doll forest tracks give fast firm walking.
- Where do I park for Mayar?
- Standard parking is at NO283762 near Dundee. 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 Mayar?
- The standard good-weather months for Mayar 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 Mayar?
- 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 Mayar?
- No signal above 750m in the Corrie Fee area. Glen Clova has intermittent 4G. The Glen Doll car park is at the limit of coverage. Download maps before setting off.
- Is Mayar safe in winter?
- A genuinely committing Angus winter Munro despite its modest height. The Corrie Fee headwall has a long avalanche record — wind-loaded slab on east-facing ground after south-westerly storms is the principal hazard. Cornicing along the corrie rim persists through the season. SAIS Southern Cairngorms covers the area. Glen Doll road is gritted; mobile signal disappears in the corrie.
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