The Ca

Rising above the head of Glen Muick near Ballater, this rounded Cairngorm summit offers a quiet alternative to the busier Munros nearby. At 679m, it sits on the eastern edge of the high Mounth plateau. The terrain is typical of the region: expansive heather moorland and peat hags that reward careful navigation.

• •The name is likely derived from the Gaelic 'An Ca', meaning 'the narrowing' or 'the strait', which likely refers to its position overlooking the constricted head of Glen Muick.
• •The hill is most often climbed as a detour from the Capel Mounth, an ancient right of way and former drovers' road that connects Glen Muick in Aberdeenshire to Glen Clova in Angus.
• •From the summit, walkers are treated to a distinct perspective down the full length of Loch Muick, with the sheer northern crags of Lochnagar dominating the skyline to the northwest.
• •As a Tump, it is classified based on its 30-metre prominence rather than reaching the loftier heights of its 900-metre neighbours, making it a peaceful spot often bypassed by Munro baggers.
• •It provides a perfectly desolate atmosphere for those who find the main Cairngorm hubs too social, offering all of the wind and none of the queues for a summit photograph.