Scotland
Cairn of Gowal
989M
3246FT
About Cairn of Gowal
Perched on the vast eastern shoulder of Beinn a’ Bhuird, this Munro Top overlooks the remote "forks" of Glen Quoich. Its expansive, stony plateau offers an exceptional perspective on the main massif's scale, providing a wild feeling of isolation and a superior vantage point for studying the mountain's complex eastern corries.
Key Statistics
Rank
15th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
21.3m
Nearest Town
Angus
Geology
You are walking on two types of granite from the Lochnagar Pluton. These light and dark rocks formed from magma that slowly cooled deep underground.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO226820
Latitude
56.9228°N
Longitude
3.2731°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a translation of the Gaelic Càrn nan Gobhal, meaning 'Cairn of the Forks', which most likely refers to the branching ridges and burns that divide the high ground above Glen Quoich.
- •It is a subsidiary top of Beinn a’ Bhuird, one of the most massive mountain blocks in the Cairngorms; reaching it usually involves a long, atmospheric approach through the Scots pines of the Mar Lodge Estate.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a spectacular profile view of the Great West Corrie of Beinn a' Bhuird and can see across the Dee valley to the dark, jagged silhouette of Lochnagar.
- •Navigating this plateau in a whiteout is a masterclass in patience; it is the sort of featureless environment where every granite boulder looks identical and the summit cairn remains elusive until you are practically tripping over it.