Black Craig

Rising above the southern banks of the River Dee near Inchmarnoch, this 529m moorland summit offers a quiet perspective on the eastern Mounth. Characterised by its dark heather slopes and proximity to Pannanich Hill, it provides a straightforward ascent with clear views across the sprawling Muir of Dinnet and its kettle-hole lochs.

• •Derived from the Gaelic Creag Dhubh, meaning 'black crag', the name refers to the dark, somber appearance of the heather-clad slopes or the small granite outcrops found near the summit.
• •The summit offers a commanding view over the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve to the north, where the distinctive shape of Loch Kinord and the granite tor of Clachnaben are visible on clear days.
• •Situated within the Glen Muick area, it forms part of the sprawling heathery plateau of the Mounth, a region historically traversed by drovers moving cattle toward the markets of the south.
• •Despite the name, walkers are far more likely to find themselves wading through dense Aberdeenshire heather than engaging in any actual rock climbing.