Lochnagar (Cac Carn Beag) - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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creg-ny-baa
N 56° 57.616 W 003° 14.717
30V E 485083 N 6312989
The summit of the iconic Scottish mountain of Lochnagar is Cac Carn Beag, a tor of granite rocks at the north end of the summit plateau.
Waymark Code: WM1BXTQ
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/22/2025
Views: 0
Lochnagar is the name given to the mountain mass that is the highest on the Mounth plateau in the eastern Grampians of Scotland. The mountain, near the Royal Estate of Balmoral, which lies to the north-west, has been mentioned in verse and song for centuries, and features a deep north-facing corrie containing the lochan which gives the mountain its name.
The mountain has many subsidiary peaks around the corrie, but the highest point at 3,789 feet, 1155 metres is Cac Carn Beag, a jumble of granite rocks found at the north-west end of the summit plateau. This should not be confused with Cac Carn Mor, despite its name a smaller edifice a few hundred yards south, usually passed on the way to the main summit and five metres less in height.
Cac Carn Beag features on its summit rocks, a stone-built Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar and a view indicator. It can easily be ascended by finding a route through the rocks. The mountain is a popular destination in the area and the route up, especially from Glen Muick to the east is well trodden.
STEEPNESS: Very steep in parts, the shortest route from Glen Muick has a steep section heading south-westwards up the rim of the corrie which eases thereafter on the summit plateau.
Terrain: Mostly paths carved out of the tundra, some craggy sections near the edge of the corrie.
ACCESSIBILTY: Can be reached on longer expeditions from Glen Doll to the south, Glen Shee to the west, or Deeside to the north, but the usual and shortest route is from the car park at Glenmuick which lies just under five miles to the east.
NAVIGATION: The well worn paths and the corrie make navigation relitively easy in mist coming from Glen Muick. From other directions any pathless terrain can be confusing on the Mounth plateau. The quickest route follows a track westwards up the mountain to eventually reach a cairn after it turns northwards. From there take the left fork off the track to follow the path to the col with Meikle Pap, and then it is clockwise around the corrie to eventually reach Cac Carn Mor and then north to the summit tor of Cac Carn Beag.
DANGER: Care needed on the steepest climb, and keep away from the corrie edge which is the preserve of experienced rock climbers.