Munro · Cairngorms
Mount Keen
Mount Keen (939m) — "smooth hill" — is the most easterly Munro in Scotland, a rounded, gentle summit standing alone above Glen Esk in eastern Angus. The hill is reached via the historic Mounth drove road from Invermark, the long route that crossed the hills from Glen Esk to Deeside. Despite its modest profile the summit gives surprisingly extensive views east over the Angus lowlands and out to the North Sea on clear days.
Quick facts
- Height
- 939.4m/ 3082ft
- Prominence
- 312 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 827 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO409869
- Parking
- NO447804
- Nearest city
- Dundee· 56km
- 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
Glen track 50% · Open hillside 35% · Summit dome 15%
Park at the Invermark car park at the head of Loch Lee in Glen Esk. Take the well-built path north past the Queen's Well (a Victorian-era folly) and onto the Mounth Road — the historic drove route over the hills. Climb the broad south ridge of Mount Keen straight to the summit, then return reverse-traverse. The full out-and-back covers about 17km with 770m of ascent — a long but well-built walk.
Terrain
The Glen Esk to Mount Keen path is among the best-built in the eastern Highlands — excellent restored stone pitching for the bulk of its length. Above the Queen's Well the ground turns to short grass and broken rock with a clear path. The summit is a rocky outcrop with a small cairn. The descent reverses the line on excellent path.
In winter
A reasonably benign Eastern Highlands winter Munro thanks to the excellent path. The summit is exposed to easterly continental weather. The Glen Esk to Invermark road can drift but the lower glen stays accessible. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast indicator. Phone signal absent above 600m.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 7m
- Edinburgh2h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 44
Mobile signal: Limited signal at Invermark car park on Loch Lee road. No coverage above 600m.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:53
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 03:58
- Civil dusk
- 22:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Mount Keen on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Montrose station
East Angus coast; Montrose Basin nature reserve; Glen Esk approach
42km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Ballater
Eastern Cairngorms / Royal Deeside
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Royal Lochnagar
Balmoral — Queen Victoria's favourite; eastern Cairngorms setting
14km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Mount Keen — common questions
- How hard is Mount Keen?
- We grade Mount Keen at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 16km with 827m of climbing; allow 5-8 hours. Ground conditions: The Glen Esk to Mount Keen path is among the best-built in the eastern Highlands — excellent restored stone pitching for the bulk of its length.
- How much drop does Mount Keen have?
- The drop is 312m: measured from the summit of Mount Keen down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Mount Keen?
- Park at NO447804. 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 Mount Keen?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Mount Keen. 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 Mount Keen?
- 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 Mount Keen?
- Limited signal at Invermark car park on Loch Lee road. No coverage above 600m.
- Is Mount Keen safe in winter?
- A reasonably benign Eastern Highlands winter Munro thanks to the excellent path. The summit is exposed to easterly continental weather. The Glen Esk to Invermark road can drift but the lower glen stays accessible. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast indicator. Phone signal absent above 600m.
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