Scotland
Broad Cairn
997M
3271FT
About Broad Cairn
Rising at the eastern edge of the Mounth plateau near Braemar, this Munro is defined by its vast, boulder-strewn summit. It offers a dramatic vantage point over the dark waters of Loch Muick and the jagged cliffs of Dubh Loch. The terrain transitions from high, windswept moorland into a literal 'broad cairn' of granite blocks.
Key Statistics
Rank
14th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
63.9m
Nearest Town
Braemar
Geology
You are walking on light-colored granite. It formed from a massive pool of molten rock, known as the Lochnagar Pluton, which cooled deep underground.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO240815
Latitude
56.9186°N
Longitude
3.2500°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a literal description of the summit's appearance. Unlike many peaks with ancient Gaelic titles, this Munro is named for the expansive, tiered field of granite boulders that crowns the mountain, resembling a man-made cairn on a massive scale.
- •Broad Cairn is most frequently climbed as part of the 'White Mounth' circuit, a classic high-level traverse from Glen Muick that usually includes Lochnagar and three other neighbouring Munros.
- •The summit provides a spectacular view of the Dubh Loch, a deep body of water sitting 300 metres directly below the northern cliffs, framed by the precipitous climbing crags of Creag an Dubh-loch.
- •Just to the west of the summit lies the 'Pony Hut', a small stone shelter originally built for deer stalking parties. It remains a vital navigational landmark on the high plateau when the Cairngorm mist descends.
- •To the east, the view opens up across the lower hills of Angus and Aberdeenshire, often stretching as far as the North Sea on exceptionally clear days.
- •Despite the name suggesting a tidy monument, the summit is actually a chaotic jigsaw of granite blocks that makes maintaining a dignified walking pace surprisingly difficult.