Scotland
Carn Mor Dearg
1220M
4003FT
About Carn Mor Dearg
Often overshadowed by its massive neighbor, this graceful Munro offers the finest approach to Ben Nevis via the celebrated Carn Mor Dearg Arête. A high, stony ridge with spectacular, close-up views of the Ben’s North Face precipices, it provides a far more alpine and rewarding experience than the standard mountain track.
Key Statistics
Rank
5th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
162m
Nearest Town
Fort William
Geology
You’re walking on light-colored, fine-grained granite. This solid rock forms the 'Inner Granite' core, the sturdy heart of the massive Ben Nevis complex.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN177721
Latitude
56.8046°N
Longitude
4.9874°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'the big red cairn.' This refers to the pinkish-red granite boulders that cover the upper slopes and summit, which can take on a distinct, warm glow in the evening light.
- •It is most famous for the Carn Mor Dearg Arête, a sweeping, crescent-shaped ridge that connects the summit to Ben Nevis. While narrowed and rocky, it is considered one of the finest Grade 1 scrambles in the Highlands, offering a true alpine feel without extreme technical difficulty.
- •The summit offers arguably the most dramatic perspective in British hillwalking: a direct, head-on view of the 700-metre cliffs of Ben Nevis’s North Face. From here, you can clearly trace the classic lines of the Douglas Boulder, Castle Ridge, and the famous ice-climbing route of Point Five Gully.
- •Standing at 1,220 metres, it is the ninth-highest mountain in Scotland and belongs to the select group of only nine Scottish peaks that exceed the 4,000-foot mark.
- •It is arguably the most ignored 'Top Ten' peak in the country; the vast majority of those who reach its summit spend their time staring intently at the busier neighbor next door rather than the hill they are actually standing on.