
Carn a' Chlamain via Glen Tilt
Hillwalking route up Carn a' Chlamain from Blair Atholl
From Blair Atholl, a fine estate track follows the course of the River Tilt to the base of Carn a' Chlamain, from where a route leads up the mountain's heather-clad south-western shoulder up to the bouldery summit.
Route outline
Munros | ||||
Walk ascent | 690m (2260ft) | |||
distance | 10km (6m) | |||
time | 3:30hr | |||
Bike ascent | 400m (1310ft) | |||
distance | 16km (10m) | |||
time | 1:30hr | |||
Start/finish | Old Blair, Glen Tilt car-park Grid Ref : NN874663 | |||
Terrain |
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Nav |
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Effort |
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Scenery |
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A fine estate track travels up Glen Tilt through farmland, woodland and forestry. Following the course of the River Tilt, the track which is cycleable, reaches the base of the south-west shoulder of Carn a' Chlamain by a wooden bridge over the Allt Craoinidh. A track, then footpath lead close to Carn a' Chlamain's summit, but in mist and with snow-cover the path may be difficult to find and navigation can be more challenging than expected.
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Route description
1. Getting to Glen Tilt car-park

Hiking up Carn a' Chlamain
The village of Blair Atholl sits aside the A9, north of Perth.
Near the centre of the village, by the bridge over the River Tilt, there is a road marked with a few signs, including "Parking Glen Tilt".
Drive up a road heading northwards and come to a junction, turn left following another sign for "Parking, Glen Tilt" - this car-park is around 200m onwards on the left, opposite a house and start of the estate track up Glen Tilt.
At the car-park there is ample parking and an information notice board. There are a few other walks in the surrounding woodland area that also begin from here.
2. Carn a' Chlamain

Approaching Carn a' Chlamain's summit
From the car-park, cross the road and begin up a track by the right-hand side of the house opposite. If biking up this, take care as there is local traffic on this as well being popular with ramblers. Head up the track for around 2km and cross the bridge over the River Tilt. Further on you'll pass the house and outbuildings of Auchgobhal
, then Marble Lodge
, now a holiday rental.
Beyond Marble Lodge, a bridge crosses back over to the northern bank of the River Tilt, from where the track climbs a short distance before dropping to a wooden bridge
over the Allt Craoinidh. If you're cycling in, leave bikes here.
Cross this wooden bridge, then head directly up the steep hill immediately ahead on a faint path. The path climbs for around 100m, then meets up with a bulldozed track heading up the southern shoulder of Carn a'Chlamain. Follow this track for around 2km.
The track then begins to leave the crest of Carn a' Chlamain's southern shoulder and aims to the right - leave it at a convienient point and you should be able to pick up a faint path and signs of ATV tracks to follow through heather keeping to the hill's crest.
Further on, the ascent steepens and the remains of an old dyke are crossed before the slope begins to flatten. The broad crest of Carn a' Chlamain's south-east shoulder is gained and an obvious track is met travelling north-west. Follow this path to the base of some boulderfield just below the summit of Carn a' Chlamain, then pick a rough route up the last few metres to the top
. Being perched above coires, views from the cairn are rather good !
3. Return to Glen Tilt car-park

Cycling back down Glen Tilt
Return by the same route. As most of the cycle back is on a slight decline, you'll fine it takes less time than the way in !
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Weather forecasts »
Regional | MWIS - Southeast Highlands |
Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
Seasonal | SAIS - Southern Cairngorms Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
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Beinn Dearg from Calvine | |
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Although Beinn Dearg is a remote Munro, there is a network of paths and estate tracks leading to its base, the most direct of which travels from Calvine through Glen Bruar. Peaks : 1 Munro
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Beinn Bhreac and neighbours | |
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Beinn a' Ghlo from Blair Atholl | |
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Ben Vuirich from Atholl | |
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