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
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 827 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO409869
- Parking
- NO447804
- Nearest city
- Dundee
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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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 signal above 600m.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:21
- Sunset
- 22:00
- Civil dawn
- 03:17
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 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?
- Mount Keen is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 827m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. 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.
- Where do I park for Mount Keen?
- Standard parking is at NO447804 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 Mount Keen?
- The standard good-weather months for Mount Keen 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 Mount Keen?
- 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 Mount Keen?
- Limited signal at Invermark car park on Loch Lee road. No signal 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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