TrailTrack
Fells/Carn Dearg (SW) [Carn Dearg (South)]
Scotland

Carn Dearg (SW) [Carn Dearg (South)]

1020M
3346FT
Rank
38th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Nearest Town
Polldubh

About Carn Dearg (SW) [Carn Dearg (South)]

Standing as a significant southwestern shoulder of Ben Nevis, this high, stony plateau offers a dramatic vantage point over the depths of Glen Nevis. While often bypassed by those on the main mountain track, it provides a quieter perspective of the Mamores and the great southern precipices of the UK’s highest peak.

Key Statistics

Rank
38th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Nearest Town
Polldubh
Prominence
?
35m
Geology
You are walking on light-colored, fine-grained rock from the Ben Nevis Inner Granite. This durable stone forms the solid heart of these mountains.

Did You Know?

  • The name is Gaelic for 'Red Cairn', a common descriptor in Lochaber referring to the colour of the granite and scree, which takes on a warm, rusted hue in the evening light.
  • Though it stands at 1,020m, many walkers unknowingly pass within 200 metres of its summit while following the zig-zags of the Ben Nevis Mountain Track between the Red Burn and the upper plateau.
  • The summit offers a unique profile view of the Coire Eòghainn cliffs and a clear, uninterrupted line of sight down the length of Glen Nevis toward the peaks of Ardgour.
  • As a Munro Top, it is a subsidiary peak of Ben Nevis; despite being significantly taller than many independent Munros, it lacks the topographic prominence to be classified as its own mountain.
  • It is perhaps the most frequently ignored 1,000-metre peak in Scotland, serving primarily as a scenic backdrop for walkers pausing to catch their breath while heading for the main summit next door.

Find It

OS Grid Reference
NN155701
Latitude
56.7858°N
Longitude
5.0219°W

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