Scotland
Carn Donnachaidh Beag
872M
2860FT
About Carn Donnachaidh Beag
Sitting high in the Grampians near Newtonmore, this rounded 871m peak offers a quieter alternative to the busier Munros nearby. The terrain is typical of the Drumochter hills—expansive, windswept, and punctuated by peat—providing a genuine sense of isolation on the high plateau overlooking the remote Gaick Forest.
Key Statistics
Rank
46th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
33.4m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking on crystalline rock similar to granite. It features large blocks of hardened sandstone that became trapped within the landscape as it formed.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH586038
Latitude
57.1034°N
Longitude
4.3360°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic for 'Little Duncan’s Cairn', likely referring to a member of the Clan Robertson (Clan Donnachaidh), who historically held the rights to the surrounding Gaick and Atholl forests.
- •Though it stands at a respectable height, its modest prominence means it is classified as a Tump, often overlooked by those heading for the neighbouring Munro, Càrn na Caim.
- •The summit offers a starkly different perspective of the Gaick Pass than that seen from the glen floor, with specific views down to the deep, glacial trench containing Loch an t-Seilich.
- •Navigating to the summit provides a masterclass in the Scottish 'plateau plod', where the distance between two points is measured less in miles and more in the number of peat hags successfully vaulted.
