Scotland
Carn Caol
714M
2343FT
About Carn Caol
Rising above the Spey Valley near Aviemore, this rounded Monadhliath summit offers a quieter perspective than its busier neighbours. Accessed via the historic Burma Road, the terrain is classic Scottish moorland: heather-clad and often boggy, eventually yielding clear, unobstructed views across the trench of the Spey to the massive Cairngorm plateau.
Key Statistics
Rank
168th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
37m
Nearest Town
Highland
Geology
You are walking across the Loch Laggan Psammite, a sparkly, durable rock made of ancient sands that were squeezed and heated deep within the earth.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH761160
Latitude
57.2179°N
Longitude
4.0533°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Càrn Caol, which translates as 'narrow cairn' or 'slender hill', likely referring to the profile of its summit ridge when viewed from certain angles in the surrounding glens.
- •Most walkers reach the summit via a detour from the Burma Road, a steep estate track originally improved by the Lovat Scouts during WWII that links Aviemore with the upper reaches of the River Dulnain.
- •The summit provides an exceptional grandstand view of the northern Cairngorms, offering a particularly clear sightline into the great glacial corries of Braeriach and the plateau of Cairn Gorm.
- •Navigating the peat hags on the approach requires a certain stoicism, as the 'slender hill' often sits within a very wide, very soggy embrace.