An Grianan

Sitting high in the remote Ben Alder forest, this substantial Grampian summit offers a quiet alternative to the neighbouring Munros. Its broad, rounded profile provides an excellent vantage point over the dark waters of Loch Ericht towards the sprawling mass of Ben Alder and the steep cliffs of Geal-Charn.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic word for a 'sunny place' or 'solarium,' a title often given to a prominent spot that catches the first or last light of the day compared to the deep, shadowed glens surrounding it.
• •Most walkers encounter the hill during the long approach to the remote Culra area, using it as a high-level viewpoint to scout the conditions on the neighbouring 3,000ft peaks of the Ben Alder forest.
• •From the summit, there is a clear and commanding perspective of the massive eastern cliffs of Geal-Charn and the long, shimmering reach of Loch Ericht stretching away to the south.
• •Being dubbed 'The Sunny Spot' in the middle of the often-saturated central Highlands can feel like a touch of Gaelic irony when the mist rolls in from the west.