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Under snow, looking down from the hill's east rim onto the narrow loch in the trough and the long ridge beyond, a larger loch behind.
Drumochter and Loch Ericht

Ben Alder

A Munro of 1,148 metres, number 25 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Ben Alder rises in the hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.

It is the tallest of the nine Munros on Ben Alder Estate, which spans over 56,000 acres of mountains, moorlands and lochs.

It is the 25th highest of the 282 Munros. Beinn Bheoil stands about two kilometres to the east, with Geal-charn and Aonach Beag a little further off to the north-west.

The estate's off-grid lodge at Culra lies beneath the shadow of Ben Alder.

The walk in
Most people come from Dalwhinnie, on what Ben Alder Estate calls the long, almost 20km track along the loch to its bothy, Ben Alder Cottage. From the lay-by by Loch Pattack, where guests of its lodge leave their cars, the track to its lodge at Culra is about 7 km. Both are only the walk in, not the length of the day. The estate also names Camusericht and Corrour as ways in from the south.
The ground
Ben Alder is one of the nine Munros on Ben Alder Estate. The estate stalks stags from August to October and hinds from October to December. From mid August to 15 February it asks walkers to keep to paths where they can and to reach the tops by the most prominent ridges. Estate office: 01540 672000.
Shelter
Culra bothy has been demolished, and the Mountain Bothies Association says there is now no shelter at all near it. The old stone part of Ben Alder Cottage is always open for anyone to use, but the estate also lets the cottage as a paid stay, McCook's Bothy, so ring the estate office before counting on it.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026. Having no forecast does not mean there is no risk under snow.
Summit
Grid reference NN 496 718, at a trig point.
Car park
The walkers' car park at Dalwhinnie is at grid reference NN 633 846.
The railway
In October 2026 Network Rail had closed the level crossing at the car park to everyone, on foot or in a vehicle. Use the underpass to the south at the Ben Alder cottages instead, grid reference NN 634 841.
Toilets
Dalwhinnie has a service station with a toilet.
On the hill today
−1° to 2°Drizzle on the summit, 1,148 m. Feels like −6° in the wind.

West wind to 18 mph, gusting 31
Rain, about 2 mm
Light from 7.51am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−2° to 2° on top · 12 mph, gusts 24
Sun 18Clear−3° to 2° on top · 11 mph, gusts 18
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 4° on top · 5 mph, gusts 10

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecast, West Highlands forecast, Ben Alder, North Grampian mountain forecast.

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 Sándor Hajdu, John Irvine and Chris B, via Google

Should you get into trouble off the track please be aware that the Estate is not qualified or insured to attempt rescue.Ben Alder Estate, which lists the hill among its Munros
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 496 718
  • 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

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Beinn Bheoil, Geal-charn, Aonach Beag, Carn Dearg. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Ben Alder Estate's, the Mountain Bothies Association's, Network Rail's, the Cairngorms National Park Authority's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office'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.