Aberdeenshire / Cairngorms
Walks Near Aberdeen
6 hills within 60km — 1 Munro, 2 Corbetts, 3 Grahams. Sorted by straight-line distance.
Aberdeen has good access to the eastern Cairngorms — Lochnagar, Beinn a' Bhuird, Ben Avon and the Deeside hills are all day trips up the A93. The Don valley hills and Bennachie round out a strong day-walk list, and Brimmond Hill gives hill walking on the edge of the city. The eastern Cairngorms see fewer visitors than the hills approached from Aviemore.
ScotRail runs from Edinburgh and Inverness. The A93 Deeside road west gives access to the Lochnagar trailhead at Glen Muick. Stagecoach service 201 runs from Aberdeen to Ballater; trailheads beyond Ballater need a car. The A939 over the Lecht connects to Tomintoul and the northern Cairngorm approaches. Aberdeen Airport has flights to London and Europe.
Top walks near Aberdeen
Lochnagar
Aberdeen's signature Munro — 1,156m with a magnificent north-east corrie, climbed from the Spittal of Glenmuick up the A93 Deeside road. A long day on mostly good paths.
73km from Aberdeen, straight line
Mount Keen
Scotland's most easterly Munro at 939m — surprisingly remote, climbed from Invermark at the head of Glen Esk or from Glen Tanar on the Deeside side. A rewarding hill with a real sense of isolation.
57km from Aberdeen, straight line
Brimmond Hill
Aberdeen's local hill (266m) in Aberdeen City Council's Brimmond Hill Country Park, with waymarked paths. Good city views and pleasant walking year-round.
9km from Aberdeen, straight line
When to go
Aberdeen sits on the drier east coast, and the eastern Cairngorms often get more settled weather than the west Highlands. Summer (June–August) is the most popular period. Winter in the eastern Cairngorms can be excellent for experienced mountaineers — Lochnagar's corrie holds snow and ice for winter climbing. Check road conditions on the A93 and the Lecht in snow.
Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and Donalds within 60km of Aberdeen
| Hill | Type | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Battock | Corbett | 778m | 45km |
| Pressendye | Graham | 619.1m | 45km |
| Hill of Wirren | Graham | 678m | 53km |
| The Buck | Graham | 721.7m | 56km |
| Morven | Corbett | 872m | 57km |
| Mount Keen | Munro | 939.4m | 57km |
Distance is straight-line (as the crow flies) from the centre of Aberdeen — not drive or walk distance. Radius: 60km. Marilyns are not included in this list; a hill on two lists appears once. Top-walk distances above are measured the same way, to the summit, car park or spot each card links to.
Current conditions near Aberdeen
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:16
- Sunset
- 16:28
- Civil dawn
- 06:35
- Civil dusk
- 17:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most popular walk from Aberdeen?
- Lochnagar (1,156m) via Glen Muick is Aberdeen's best-known mountain day. From the Spittal of Glenmuick car park the round is about 19km with about 1,000m of ascent on mostly good paths. Allow 6–8 hours.
- Can I reach Deeside hills from Aberdeen without a car?
- Partly — Stagecoach service 201 runs from Aberdeen to Ballater. From Ballater, the Glen Muick road to the Lochnagar trailhead is a long dead-end glen road with no bus. A taxi from Ballater is the most practical option. Ballater itself has good shorter walks without further transport.
- What is the best Munro for a first-timer near Aberdeen?
- Lochnagar has good paths but its 19km round with about 1,000m of ascent makes it a demanding first Munro. Mount Keen (939m) from Invermark is a long but more even day, about 17km return. Morven (872m, a Corbett above Deeside) and Bennachie (Oxen Craig 529m, near Inverurie) are good easier options for those building up.
- How far are the Cairngorms from Aberdeen?
- The Cairngorm car park above Glenmore is about 95km from Aberdeen in a straight line. By road you can go west over the Lecht (A939) via Tomintoul, or round by the A96 and A9 to Aviemore. The eastern Cairngorm hills (Beinn a' Bhuird, Ben Avon) are approached from Deeside.
Eat, drink and stay in Aberdeen
The SCOT network covering the same town — travel context, food and drink, and non-hill alternatives.
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