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.

• •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.