Scotland
Carn an Tuirc
1019M
3343FT
About Carn an Tuirc
Rising steeply above the A93 north of the Glenshee Ski Centre, this Munro presents a rugged, boulder-strewn face to the road. Once the initial pull is over, the terrain levels into a vast, stony plateau. It offers a swift ascent with expansive views across the remote, high-altitude landscape of the White Mounth.
Key Statistics
Rank
11th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
61.6m
Nearest Town
Braemar
Geology
This trail sits on tough, pebbly quartzite and heat-hardened volcanic rocks, cut through by narrow bands of dark, once-molten stone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO174804
Latitude
56.9075°N
Longitude
3.3580°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Càrn an Tuirc, meaning 'Hill of the Wild Boar', a nod to the animals that once roamed the lower glens and the fringes of the ancient Caledonian Forest.
- •It is most often climbed as the first peak in a popular four-Munro circuit, connecting via high, undulating ridges to Cairn of Claise, Glas Maol, and Creag Leacach.
- •From the summit cairn, there is a clear, commanding view north over the deep trough of Glen Clunie toward the massive, flat-topped silhouettes of the high Cairngorms, including Beinn a' Bhùird and Ben Avon.
- •The mountain's western flank is a chaotic jumble of quartzite boulders; while they provide a sturdy staircase on the way up, they are famously unforgiving on the knees during a direct descent back to the glen.
- •While the name promises legendary beasts, the most excitement you’re likely to find today is the sudden, frantic camouflage-burst of a mountain hare against the grey scree.