Carn Lochan Dubh nam Biast

About Carn Lochan Dubh nam Biast

Rising above the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, this Monadhliath summit offers a rugged, often pathless experience through heather and peat. It provides a distinct vantage point over the Great Glen, looking directly across the water to the prominent hump of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh and the distant, shapely peaks of the Glen Affric forest.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Scottish Gaelic, with Càrn Lochan Dubh nam Biast translating as the 'Cairn of the Black Little Loch of the Beasts'. In Highland folklore, 'biast' often refers to supernatural creatures like kelpies or water-horses, likely inspired by the dark, lonely waters of the lochan just below the summit.
• •The hill is a prime viewpoint for observing the Great Glen Fault; the summit allows you to trace the massive geological rift that slices through the Highlands from Fort William towards Inverness.
• •It is situated in the South Loch Ness area, a quieter part of the Monadhliath range that lacks the popular 'Munro' status of its neighbours to the south, ensuring a solitary walk even during the height of the summer season.
• •To the west, the view is dominated by the sprawling wind farm at Dunmaglass, providing a stark modern contrast to the ancient, wild character of the surrounding moorland.
• •While the name suggests a lair of monsters, the only beasts you are likely to encounter in the summit heather are particularly persistent Highland midges.