Scotland
Carn Dearg SE Top
924M
3031FT
About Carn Dearg SE Top
Resting on the expansive Monadhliath plateau above Newtonmore, this high Munro Top offers a wild, remote experience. Reaching the stony summit involves navigating rolling moorland, typically as part of a circuit with its parent peak. From here, you gain clear perspectives across the Spey Valley toward the massive Cairngorm range.
Key Statistics
Rank
22nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
17.6m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking across layers of shiny, sand-like rock and striped, hardened mudstone. These durable stones form the rugged foundation of this high summit.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH637017
Latitude
57.0861°N
Longitude
4.2507°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Càrn Dearg is Gaelic for 'Red Cairn', a common descriptive name in the Highlands usually referencing the tint of the local rock or the seasonal hue of the heather on its slopes.
- •This summit is classified as a Munro Top of the 945m Càrn Dearg, meaning it exceeds 3,000 feet in height but is considered a subsidiary peak rather than an independent Munro.
- •Most hillwalkers reach this point by ascending from Glen Banchor near Newtonmore, following a long approach through the lonely Gleann Ballach before striking onto the high ground.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point to look across the deep trough of the Spey Valley toward the northern corries of the Cairngorm giants, including Braeriach and Cairn Toul.
- •The Monadhliath plateau is famous for its peat hags; visiting this top often involves a specialized form of Scottish gymnastics as you leap between dark, wobbly islands of moss and heather.