Broad Cairn

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.

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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.