Scotland
Craigangowan
517M
1696FT
About Craigangowan
Rising above the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, this 517-metre hill offers a regal perspective over the Dee Valley. The terrain is typical of the eastern Highlands, featuring well-maintained estate tracks that wind through Scots pine and open heather, providing a straightforward ascent with clear views toward the formidable mass of Lochnagar.
Key Statistics
Rank
234th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
21
Nearest Town
Millden
Geology
You are walking across the Glen Effock Schist, a foundation of hardened mud and sandstones that often shimmer with tiny, glittering mineral flakes.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO585788
Latitude
56.8990°N
Longitude
2.6818°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Creag nan Gobhainn, which translates to 'Crag of the Smiths', suggesting historical metalworking or forging took place in the glens below.
- •Located within the private grounds of the Balmoral Estate, the hill is a central feature of the 'Royal Cairns' walk, a circuit of monuments erected by Queen Victoria and her descendants.
- •The summit provides a celebrated bird's-eye view of Balmoral Castle's turrets and the winding River Dee as it flows east toward Ballater.
- •While the most famous landmark in the area is the large stone pyramid of Prince Albert's Cairn on neighbouring Craig Lurachain, Craigangowan offers a quieter vantage point for observing the transition from forest to open moorland.
- •It is perhaps one of the few hills in Scotland where you are statistically more likely to be overtaken by a Land Rover carrying a member of the Royal Family than a fell runner in Lycra.