Scotland
Carn Phris Mhoir
618M
2029FT
About Carn Phris Mhoir
Rising above the Spey Valley northwest of Aviemore, this heathery Monadhliath summit offers a quieter alternative to the high Cairngorms. The terrain is typical of the range—rounded and often boggy—but the reward is a clear, unobstructed perspective across the strath toward the massive northern corries of Braeriach and the Lairig Ghru.
Key Statistics
Rank
239th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
94.1m
Nearest Town
Slochd
Geology
You are walking across the Beinn Bhreac Psammite. These durable, banded rocks were once sand, now compressed into a hard surface sparkling with shiny flakes.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH807218
Latitude
57.2712°N
Longitude
3.9800°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Càrn Phris Mhòir', meaning the 'cairn of the large thicket', suggesting that notable scrub or woodland once clung to these now-barren heathery slopes.
- •It is frequently bagged as a quiet extension to the ascent of Geal-charn Mòr, though the terrain between the two requires patience to navigate the deep peat hags typical of the Monadhliath plateau.
- •The summit offers a perfectly framed view directly into the mouth of the Lairig Ghru, the famous mountain pass that splits the high Cairngorm giants of Braeriach and Ben Macdui.
- •Despite its height of over 2,000 feet, its status as a Tump rather than a Munro or Corbett means it remains largely ignored by the crowds heading to the more famous peaks across the Spey valley.