Carn Sgumain

Rising above the Spey Valley near Grantown-on-Spey, this modest moorland summit offers a quiet escape into the northern Grampians. The terrain is typical of the Cromdale hills—heavy heather and peat hags—rewarding the climb with clear, expansive perspectives across to the high, often snow-dusted plateaus of the main Cairngorm massif.

• •The name derives from the Gaelic Càrn Sgumain, where 'Càrn' signifies a rocky hill and 'Sgumain' refers to a stack, a clump, or a bundle of hay, likely describing the hill's rounded, heaped profile.
• •The summit is a primary vantage point for viewing the 'Back of Cromdale,' looking out over the remote moors that stretch toward the Dorback Burn and the Braes of Glenlivet.
• •From the 417-metre top, the view south-west is dominated by the massive northern corries of the Cairngorms, with the distinctive pyramid of Bynack More standing out clearly on a fine day.
• •While officially classified as a Hump, the thick heather on the approach ensures that your legs will feel as though you have tackled something significantly more substantial by the time you reach the top.