East Highlands & Cairngorms
Mountain hiking routes on Scotland's Eastern Highlands
The finest hill-walking and scrambling routes in the mountains of the Cairngorms and Scotland's Eastern Highlands.
Islands
Northern Highlands
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Eastern Highlands
Central Highlands
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Southern Uplands
Map base ©OpenStreetMap
To help you find routes, on a separate page, you can filter all these routes in the Eastern Highlands by distance, ascent, difficulty of terrain, quality of scenery and even by Munro and Corbett count.
1. Glen Feshie and Rothiemurchus
In the heart of Rothiemurchus, heather and juniper cover the lower slopes, upper ground is flat and featureless, fortunately some good paths and tracks help ease navigation to the Munro summits of Sgor Gaoith and Mullach Clach a'Bhlair.
2. Braeriach, Cairn Toul and west of Lairig Ghru
West of the Lairig Ghru, high plateaux above cliffs and coires will test navigation skills. Rewarding views, particularly from Braeriach's summit.
3. Ben Macdui, Cairngorm and east of Lairig Ghru
Vast plateaus with Artic tundra, hidden lochans, long narrow crests, dark corries and weird granite tors.
4. Ben Avon and Munros east of Lairig Laoigh
Unusual summit volcanic tors sit on vast plateaux and above an area full of wildlife. Good estate tracks and fine paths from most directions make for easy access.
5. Mount Keen and Mount Battock
Recent path work have made access to these summits a delight. A bike is recommended for either approach up Mount Keen.
6. Lochnagar and around Loch Muick
Mighty Lochnagar and its neighbouring Munros encircle Loch Muick in the south-east Cairngorms. The famed dark coires of Lochnagar are favourite winter climbing areas.
7. Above the Angus Glens
With fine paths and short distance, Driesh and Mayar above Glen Doll make for a good introduction to hillwalking.
The day can be extended to include Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, returning by 'Old Jock's Road'.
8. Glenshee
There are 9 Munros above the Glenshee Ski Centre. You could pick them off over a few days on short routes, or combine them into one big outing, perhaps running them part of the Glenshee 9 hillrace. Either way, the terrain will test navigation skills, particulary if in mist.
9. Glen Ey
Encircling Glen Ey, south-west of Braemar are 5 Munros including mighty Glas Tulaichean and remote Beinn Iutharn Mhor.
Lots of route options to get lost in the rolling hills and lonely lochans of this area.
10. Above Geldie Lodge
West of Linn of Dee in vast wilderness of the southern Cairngorms, the gentle slopes of An Sgarsoch and Carn an Fhidhleir rise above heather-clad moorland surrounding the sad ruins of Geldie Lodge.
Fine estate tracks aid access into the area by bike.
11. Atholl, Tilt and Bruar
North of Blair Atholl, Glen Tilt and Glen Bruar cross remote moorland between several Munros and Corbetts.
A network of fine estate tracks and paths lead to the base of the mountains, where higher up navigation skills will be tested on the summit plateaux.
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