Scotland
Carn Bhrain
636M
2085FT
About Carn Bhrain
Rising from the remote moorland south of the River Oykel, this rugged Tump offers a pathless, lonely ascent through classic Highland heather and peat. The summit provides a clear, uncrowded perspective of the massive granite domes of neighbouring Carn Chuinneag and the vast, empty rolling plateaus of the Freewater Forest.
Key Statistics
Rank
92nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
33.3m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking over a foundation of striped granite and clay-rich rocks baked hard by heat. These durable materials form the rugged core of the fell.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH525874
Latitude
57.8522°N
Longitude
4.4864°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic, most likely meaning 'Cairn of the Raven' (Càrn Bhrain), though Bran is also the name of the legendary giant hound belonging to the mythical hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.
- •The hill sits on a significant watershed; rainfall on its northern slopes eventually flows into the Kyle of Sutherland, while the southern drainage feeds the Carron River.
- •The summit views are remarkably far-reaching for its height, offering a distant but sharp profile of the Assynt giants, including Ben More Assynt and the jagged ridge of Conival to the north-west.
- •The approach is a masterclass in Scottish peat hags—the kind of saturated, black channels that provide a stern test of both your navigation and the actual depth of your gaiters.