At One with the Mountains - An interview with Nick Gardner
Issue 6: Nick Gardner and his wife Janet were living an idyllic life on a croft…
Blair Atholl and Glen Tilt
Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn nan Gabhar
A Munro of 1,122 metres, number 33 of the 282.
Photograph by Nick Bramhall (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The hill
Beinn a' Ghlo is a mountain of three Munros near Blair Atholl, on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, and Carn nan Gabhar is the highest of them.
Among all 282 Munros it comes 33rd.
Its two partners lie to the west and south-west: Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain nearly three kilometres away, and Carn Liath about five. Glen Tilt runs beneath the mountain's slopes.
The whole of Beinn a' Ghlo is protected for its wildlife. The Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland says its flora and fauna are so varied that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area all at once.
Atholl Estates' main routes on Beinn a' Ghlò are the main ridge path, the usual descent by Airgiod Bheinn, and the path round the eastern side of the hills.
- Starts from
- The Beinn a' Ghlò car park at Loch Moraig, near Blair Atholl, at the start of the Càrn Liath path. The Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland opened it for the hill and its three Munro summits.
- Stalking
- In the stag season Atholl Estates asks hillwalkers to keep to its main routes, or to ring its Hillphone on 01796 481740, updated at 8am daily. Its access page gives the season as 1 August to 20 October, but other dates are printed elsewhere, so ask the estate. There is no stalking on Sundays.
- The ground
- The hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.
- Summit
- Grid reference NN 971 733.
- Car park
- The Beinn a' Ghlò car park at Loch Moraig, PH18 5TT, is run by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland and has 60 spaces. In 2026 it charged £5 a car, by contactless card, Apple Pay or cash.
- Other vehicles
- Motorbikes £3, campervans £8 and minibuses £15; a year's permit is £20 a vehicle. An attendant patrols daily. The access road is narrow.
- Toilets and food
- There are no toilets at the car park. Our nearest places to eat are in Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie.
On the hill today
A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Southeastern Highlands forecast, Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecast, Càrn nan Gabhar, Scottish Avalanche Information Service.
October2026
MTWTFSS
Going another day?
Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.
Photographs by Nick Bramhall (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Before you go
Carry
- A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
- Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
- Food and drink
- A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
- A survival bag
- Boots with a good grip
Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.
If something goes wrong
- Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
- Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 971 733
- Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
- Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999
The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.
How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER
From our readers
Nobody has written from Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn nan Gabhar yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.
Tell the next person
Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.
Read more elsewhere
For the route itself, take the map and read these.
- Càrn nan Gabhar on WalkhighlandsA full route description with a map, for the way along the ridgewalkhighlands.co.ukThe route↗
- Parking at Beinn a' GhlòThe Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland's current charges and how to payoutdooraccesstrustforscotland.org.ukThe car park↗
- Much-loved path given a new lease of lifeThe park authority on the repair of the Càrn Liath path, which starts at the car parkcairngorms.co.ukThe path↗
- Walking on Atholl EstatesAtholl Estates' hill routes and its walking mapatholl-estates.co.ukThe estate↗
- Southeastern Highlands forecastThe Mountain Weather Information Service's forecast, three days ahead and written by forecasters. The hill sits where two of its areas meet, so read this one and the nextmwis.org.ukMountain weather↗
- Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecastThe neighbouring area; the service's area map shows which covers the hillmwis.org.ukMountain weather↗
- Càrn nan GabharThe Met Office's forecast for the summit itself: a model for one point, not a report from the hillweather.metoffice.gov.ukSummit forecast↗
- Scottish Avalanche Information ServiceThere is no avalanche forecast for Atholl: none of the service's six areas covers it, and their forecasts begin on 17 December 2026. Having no forecast does not mean there is no risk here under snowsais.gov.ukAvalanche↗
- Atholl Estates' guidance for public accessThe estate's main routes for the stag season and its Hillphone, 01796 481740, updated at 8am daily. The page gives the season as 1 August to 20 October; ask the estate, as other dates are printed elsewhereatholl-estates.co.ukNotices↗
Next along: Beinn a' Ghlo - Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn Liath, Carn a' Chlamain, Carn an Righ. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland's and Atholl Estates'; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.