Scotland
Carn Dearg
1034M
3393FT
About Carn Dearg
Standing as the highest point of the Monadh Liath, this Munro offers a surprisingly rugged character compared to the range’s typical peat hags. Its steep eastern crags drop dramatically into Gleann Ballach, providing a sharp contrast to the vast, rolling plateau to the north. It is frequently climbed alongside its neighbour, A' Chailleach.
Key Statistics
Rank
34th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
158.1m
Nearest Town
Newtonmore
Geology
You are walking over ancient sand and silt compressed into hard, sparkling, layered rocks. These sturdy formations create the rugged landscape beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN504764
Latitude
56.8549°N
Longitude
4.4549°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Scottish Gaelic for 'Red Cairn', likely a reference to the granite scree on its steeper eastern slopes which takes on a warm hue in certain lights.
- •Most walkers approach from Glen Banchor near Newtonmore, usually combining the peak with Geal Charn and A’ Chailleach in a long, high-level loop that requires navigating significant sections of boggy ground.
- •The summit serves as an exceptional vantage point for looking across the Spey Valley toward the Cairngorm plateau, with the deep cleft of the Lairig Ghru clearly visible between the masses of Braeriach and Ben Macdui.
- •Author and broadcaster Cameron McNeish highlights this hill as a notable exception to the Monadh Liath’s reputation, describing its rocky architecture as a welcome contrast to the otherwise sprawling and undistinguished nature of the range.
- •The surrounding plateau is so vast and lacking in distinct landmarks that it remains one of the finest places in Scotland to inadvertently test your navigation skills during a whiteout.