Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 4 hikers
With a Gaelic name translating to ‘Red Peak’, it’s perhaps unsurprising that there are numerous mountains by this name in Scotland. This particular Càrn Dearg is a Munro, lying to the north of Ben Alder, in the vast and remote landscape between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean. Rising to 3,392 feet (1,034 m), the mountain is exceptionally remote and requires an extensive walk-in combined with a wild camp.
There used to be a bothy at the foot of the peak – Culra – but it’s no longer in use due to asbestos. Nonetheless, its general location is a useful camping spot that allows you to make an immediate ascent of Càrn Dearg when you’ve finished your morning coffee. You can reach the foot of the Munro via a lengthy approach from Corrour Station to the west or a shorter one from Dalwhinnie to the north east.
The ascent is steep and grassy with nothing technical and, once you reach the top, the views are fantastic, particularly of the mighty Ben Alder to the south.
Carn Dearg is a 1,034m Munro mountain in the Scottish Highlands. I ascended this mountain up a pathless slope, direct from Culra Bothy (now closed due to Asbestos exposure risk). It was as steep and grassy hillside and tough going (especially as we'd climbed Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil earlier the same day). It is possible to connect this Munro with Geal Charn and add in Lancet Edge, an exposed ridge which would require some scrambling (up to grade 1).
April 4, 2020
Munros north of Ben Alder are usually tackled anti-clockwise, beginning the day here. A pathless grassy slope from Curla bothy is the best ascent, and the summit is marked with a large cairn.
October 7, 2021
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