Scotland
Cairn Leuchan
700M
2296FT
About Cairn Leuchan
Rising above the Girnock Burn near Ballater, this rounded heathery peak offers a quieter alternative to the busy trails of nearby Lochnagar. Its broad summit provides a sprawling perspective of the Mounth plateau, with particularly clear views across to the craggy north face of Lochnagar and the dark woods of Balmoral.
Key Statistics
Rank
113th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
44.6m
Nearest Town
Ballater
Geology
Cairn Leuchan is formed from ancient layers of sand and mud, alongside dark, hardened rocks shaped by intense heat and pressure deep within the earth.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO378905
Latitude
57.0015°N
Longitude
3.0256°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Càrn Liochain, meaning the 'cairn of the flat stones' or flagstones, likely referring to the weathered granite slabs scattered across the summit area.
- •Positioned on the fringes of the Balmoral Estate, the hill overlooks the Girnock Burn, an area dotted with the ruins of abandoned 19th-century highland townships like Baile-na-Coille.
- •The summit serves as an excellent vantage point for studying the sprawling eastern Grampians, offering a distinctive profile of Morven to the north and the high, wild plateau of the White Mounth to the south.
- •At 699.8 metres, the hill falls agonizingly short of the 700-metre milestone, effectively making it a giant among Tumps but a 'nearly-man' of the Scottish highlands.