Mount Keen

About Mount Keen

Standing as the easternmost of the Munros, this prominent conical peak offers a straightforward ascent via well-maintained tracks. Whether approached through the ancient pines of Glen Tanar or the dramatic head of Glen Mark, its isolated position provides an expansive sense of scale across the rolling Mounth plateaus.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Gaelic Monadh Caoin, meaning 'the smooth' or 'pleasant mountain.' This reflects its regular, symmetrical shape and the relatively gentle terrain of the eastern Grampians compared to the jagged peaks of the west.
• •Mount Keen holds the title of the most easterly Munro. Because it stands so far apart from the main Cairngorm mass, the summit offers a rare panoramic view that includes the North Sea to the east and the massive granite corries of Lochnagar to the west.
• •In September 1861, Queen Victoria reached the summit on pony-back during a journey from Balmoral to Invermark. A small well near the foot of the final climb in Glen Mark, known as the Queen's Well, commemorates her visit with an elaborate stone crown.
• •The hill sits on a historic 'Mounth' road—one of the ancient passes used by drovers and travellers to cross the high ground between the Angus Glens and Deeside. These routes remained vital for trade and movement until the construction of modern roads in the valleys.
• •The final climb is a simple zig-zag on a clear path, which is a mercy, as the approach from either side involves a long, steady walk-in that makes the mountain feel much more remote than its modest technical difficulty suggests.