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.
Northern Highlands
West Highlands
Eastern Highlands
Central Highlands
Southern Highlands
Southern Uplands
1. Culloden to Strathdearn | |
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Vast undulating and heather-clad moorlands overlook the River Findhorn as it flows from Strathdearn to the Moray Firth. Much of the landscape is now covered in wind-turbines, with the benefit of decent cycleable tracks reaching close to summits.
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2. Buchan and Moray | |
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Rolling heather-clad hills north-east of the Cairngorms. No Munros, but several fine Corbetts and other hills !
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3. The Ladder Hills | |
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Crossing The Lecht, the Ladder Hills form a long stretch of high ground from Glen Livet to the River Avon.
Hillwalking routes :
Carn Mor from Scalan and The Lecht Carn Ealasaid from The Lecht Ladylea Hill from Invernettie |
4. River Don to River Gairn | |
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Standing between and above the River Don and the River Gairn are rolling heather-clad hills.
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5. Ben Avon and mountains east of Lairig Laoigh | |
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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.
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6. Ben Macdui, Cairngorm and east of Lairig Ghru | |
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Vast plateaus with Arctic tundra, hidden lochans, long narrow crests, dark corries and weird granite tors.
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7. Braeriach, Cairn Toul and west of Lairig Ghru | |
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West of the Lairig Ghru, high plateaux above cliffs and coires will test navigation skills. Rewarding views, particularly from Braeriach's summit.
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8. Glen Feshie and Rothiemurchus | |
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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.
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9. East of Drumochter and Gaick Forest | |
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Between Drumochter Pass and Glen Tromie is a vast area of moorland divided by glens and lochans above which are several rounded Munros and Corbetts.
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10. Atholl, Tilt and Bruar | |
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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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11. Above Geldie Lodge | |
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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.
Hillwalking routes :
An Sgarsoch and Carn an Fhidhleir from Linn of Dee |
12. Glen Ey | |
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South-east of Braemar, Glen Ey is overlooked by many heather and grass covered rolling hills.
There are five Munros in this area including mighty Glas Tulaichean and remote Beinn Iutharn Mhor.
Directly above Braemar is conical little Morrone, a superb viewpoint over the southern Cairngorms.
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13. Glenshee | |
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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.
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14. Above the Angus Glens | |
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With fine paths and short distance, Driesh and Mayar above Glen Doll and Glen Clova make for a good introduction to Munro bagging.
On the other side of Glen Clova is Ben Tirran standing above glacially carved landscapes surrounding hidden lochs.
Hillwalking routes :
Driesh and Mayar Munros above Jock's Road Ben Tirran from Glen Clova Monamemach from Glen Isla |
15. Lochnagar and around Loch Muick | |
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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.
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16. Mount Keen, Mount Battock and Clachnaben | |
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Fine estate tracks and constructed paths make access to these hill summits a delight. A bike is recommended for either approach up Mount Keen.
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