Scotland
Carn na Drochaide
828M
2717FT
About Carn na Drochaide
Rising directly above Braemar, this rounded, heathery hill provides an exceptional vantage point for studying the high Cairngorm plateaus. Its stony summit serves as a grandstand for the massive corries of Beinn a’ Bhuird and the distinctive granite tors of Ben Avon, visible across the deep trench of the Quoich Water.
Key Statistics
Rank
81st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
62m
Nearest Town
Aberdeenshire
Geology
You are walking over a blend of hardened mudstones, flaky carbon-rich rocks, and tough, pebbly quartz. Fine-grained volcanic stone also cuts through this ancient landscape.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO124860
Latitude
56.9569°N
Longitude
3.4420°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Gaelic as 'Cairn of the Bridge', a reference to its proximity to the historic crossing of the Clunie Water in Braemar, a village formerly known as Cinn Drochaid.
- •Its summit offers a celebrated profile of the 'Great Slab' of Beinn a' Bhuird, providing a sense of scale for the massive plateau that is often lost when standing on the higher peak itself.
- •The hill forms part of the Mar Lodge Estate, and the common ascent from the Linn of Quoich passes through some of the most significant remnants of the ancient Caledonian Pinewood in Scotland.
- •At 828 metres, it is high enough to offer a magnificent panorama of the southern Cairngorms while remaining low enough to ensure a return to a Braemar pub before the evening light fades.