Scotland
Carn nan Suilean Dubha
703M
2306FT
About Carn nan Suilean Dubha
Tucked away in the northern reaches of the Grampians near Aviemore, this 702m summit offers a classic Monadhliath experience. The terrain is characterized by expansive heather moorland and peat hags. It provides a quiet vantage point for viewing the high Cairngorm plateaus of Braeriach and Cairn Gorm across the Spey Valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
181st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
36.6m
Nearest Town
Alvie
Geology
You’re walking over several layers of granite from the Monadhliath Pluton. These rocks vary from fine-grained textures to stones embedded with large, distinct crystals.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH820116
Latitude
57.1800°N
Longitude
3.9536°W
Did You Know?
- •The Gaelic name Càrn nan Sùilean Dubha translates as the 'Hill of the Black Eyes'; while 'sùilean' literally means eyes, in this boggy landscape it refers to the dark, bottomless peat pools or the 'eyes' of springs.
- •The hill sits on the eastern edge of the Monadhliath, overlooking the Slochd Mòr, the natural pass through which the A9 road and the Highland Main Line railway squeeze on their way north to Inverness.
- •The summit offers a distinct perspective of the Cairngorm giants to the south, providing a clear line of sight to the massive granite cliffs of Coire an t-Sneachda and Coire an Lochain.
- •Navigating the rolling, often featureless plateau in thick mist requires a sharp eye and a reliable compass, as one peat hag looks remarkably like the next.