Carn Dearg North Top

Overlooking the A86 near Roughburn, this heathery Tump serves as a fine introductory climb to the Lochaber wilds. While lacking the height of its Munro neighbours, it rewards the pathless slog with a spectacular, unobstructed profile of the Grey Corries across the glen to the southwest.

• •The name Càrn Dearg translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Red Cairn,' a common Highland moniker typically referencing the distinctive hue of the local granite or the way the winter grasses catch the low sun.
• •From this northern outpost, the view across the Allt a' Chaorainn offers a unique perspective on the eastern flanks of Beinn a' Chaorainn, revealing the scale of the crags that are often hidden from the roadside.
• •Situated just outside the formal boundaries of the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, the hill sits in a transition zone between the managed forestry of Glen Spean and the wild, boggy plateaus of the Monadhliath.
• •As one of several hills in the region sharing the exact same name, it provides the perfect opportunity to tell your walking companions you've climbed Carn Dearg, then watch their confusion as they try to figure out which one.