Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The stony top of Càrn Dearg under a deep blue sky, hills ranged beyond.
Drumochter and Loch Ericht

Carn Dearg

A Munro of 1,034 metres, number 98 of the 282.

Photograph by James Caven, via Google

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

This Carn Dearg stands above Culra on the Ben Alder massif, west of Loch Ericht, one of the nine Munros that Ben Alder Estate lists on its ground.

The estate's lodge at Culra lies about two kilometres to the east.

Ben Alder itself is about five kilometres to the south. Geal-charn lies to the south-west and Beinn a' Chlachair to the north-west, both under four kilometres away.

Several Munros share the name. Corrour Estate, whose own Càrn Dearg stands by Loch Ossian, gives it as Red Cairn.

The walk in
Most people bound for Ben Alder Estate's bothy, Ben Alder Cottage, come from Dalwhinnie, on what the estate calls the long, almost 20km track along the loch. 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
Carn Dearg 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 full 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 504 764. The highest point is an outcrop 2 metres east of the cairn.
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 the public. Use the underpass to the south at the Ben Alder cottages instead, grid reference NN 634 841: it joins the same path towards Ben Alder.
On the hill today
0° to 3°Drizzle on the summit, 1,034 m. Feels like −5° in the wind.

West wind to 19 mph, gusting 34
Rain, about 3 mm
Light from 7.51am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Mostly clear−2° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 14
Sun 18Clear−2° to 4° on top · 12 mph, gusts 20
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 5° 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, Carn Dearg, North Grampian mountain forecast, Deer stalking and hill access.

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.

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 504 764
  • 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 Carn Dearg 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.

Sign in to tell them
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 a' Chlachair, Geal-charn, Ben Alder, Geal Charn. 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.