Scotland
Carleatheran
485M
1591FT
About Carleatheran
Rising above the Carse of Stirling, this sprawling moorland summit is the highest point of the Gargunnock Hills. Characterised by peat hags and a vast, wild plateau, the top is marked by an enormous ancient cairn and a trig pillar, offering commanding views over Stirling Castle and the southern Highland peaks.
Key Statistics
Rank
62nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
168m
Nearest Town
Gargunnock
Geology
You are walking across layers of volcanic lava flows. These eruptions formed the solid rock foundation beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS687918
Latitude
56.1016°N
Longitude
4.1110°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Gaelic 'Cathair na Litire', meaning 'Fort of the Slope' or 'Letter-fort,' referencing the steep northern escarpment that drops away toward the Forth Valley.
- •The summit is crowned by a remarkably large Bronze Age burial cairn, measuring nearly 18 metres in diameter, which significantly predates the modern Ordnance Survey trig pillar standing nearby.
- •From the top, the panoramic view northwards is exceptional, looking directly down onto the coils of the River Forth and across to the distinctive silhouettes of Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.
- •While the height is modest, the plateau environment is surprisingly wild and remote-feeling, dominated by expansive grass moorland and the rugged terrain typical of the Central Belt uplands.
- •A successful ascent usually depends less on your cardiovascular fitness and more on your ability to judge which patches of bright green moss are solid ground and which are gateway portals to a cold, muddy bath.