Beinn Dearg

Rising deep within the Forest of Atholl, this remote Munro is defined by its vast, rounded proportions and the long, scenic approach required to reach it. It feels isolated and grand, a massive dome of red granite that rewards the long walk from Blair Atholl with a true sense of Highland solitude.

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Red Mountain', describing the pinkish-red granite scree and soil found on its upper slopes, which becomes particularly vibrant when wet.
• •Reaching the summit usually requires a long approach from Old Blair; many walkers use mountain bikes for the first 8 kilometres through Glen Banvie to save time for the final ascent.
• •The summit offers a clear, elevated perspective of the Cairngorm giants to the north, specifically the massive bulk of Braeriach and the sprawl of the Beinn a' Ghlò massif across Glen Tilt.
• •The mountain is a stronghold for red deer; large herds are frequently spotted in the vast, open corries on its eastern flanks, especially during the autumn rut.
• •The area has a long connection to the Dukes of Atholl, whose estate workers and stalkers have managed these slopes for centuries as part of one of Scotland's oldest deer forests.
• •Given the ten-mile trek just to get back to the car, the summit cairn is often less a place for celebration and more a place to sit and quietly reconsider your life choices.