Carn Dubh

Rising above the remote upper reaches of Glen Ey, this rounded, heather-clad shoulder offers a quiet alternative to the busier neighbouring Munros. Its stony summit provides a vantage point over the desolate Mounth plateau, looking north toward the high Cairngorm giants and south to the triple-peaked massif of Beinn a' Ghlò.

• •The name Càrn Dubh is Gaelic for 'Black Cairn'. This usually refers to the dark appearance of the heather or peat on its slopes, distinguishing it from the lighter, rockier tops of the higher Cairngorm summits.
• •To reach the hill from Braemar, most walkers take the long, scenic track through Glen Ey, passing the ruins of Altanour Lodge, which was once a Victorian shooting lodge used by the Duke of Fife.
• •The summit offers an excellent perspective of the 'Geldie-Feshie' pass to the west, a historic route through the mountains that was once a major artery for cattle drovers.
• •It sits on the main watershed of Scotland; any rain falling on the northern side drains into the River Dee, while water on the southern slopes eventually joins the River Tay.
• •As a Tump, it possesses at least 30 metres of drop on all sides, a status that almost guarantees you a summit to yourself while the crowds are busy bagging the more famous Munros nearby.