Scotland
Carn Liath
1006M
3301FT
About Carn Liath
Standing as the most prominent southern sentinel of the Beinn a’ Ghlo massif, this Munro is defined by its striking white quartzite scree. The ascent follows a steep, eroded scar clearly visible from the A9, eventually leading to a summit that offers a grand perspective over the sprawling Forest of Atholl.
Key Statistics
Rank
11th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
86.9
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are walking on the Loch Laggan Psammite Formation. This hard, sandy rock is filled with tiny, glittering mineral flakes that sparkle underfoot.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN472903
Latitude
56.9788°N
Longitude
4.5153°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic for 'Grey Cairn', a reference to the pale quartzite rocks that cover the upper slopes and give the hill a ghost-like appearance from the valley even when the snow has melted.
- •This is typically the first peak tackled in the classic three-Munro traverse of Beinn a’ Ghlo, a massive and complex mountain system that dominates the skyline northeast of Blair Atholl.
- •The 'great white scar' of the main ascent path is so prominent that it serves as a major navigational landmark for motorists on the A9 road miles away.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a clear view across the deep trench of the Pass of Killiecrankie toward the distinctive, isolated cone of Schiehallion in the west.
- •While the quartzite makes for a beautiful summit, the loose stone is famously unforgiving on the knees during the descent, proving that some of the most attractive peaks are the hardest to live with.