Càrn Bhac

Carn Bhac
Aberdeenshire, Perthshire
Range:	Cairnwell Hills
Summit:	3,104 feet NO051832

Carn Bhac is a mountain on the border of Aberdeenshire with Perthshire, which reaches a height of 3,104 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro.

This is the most northern Munro of the Cairnwell Hills, part of the wider Grampian Hills range. Its nearest neighbour is a fellow Munro, Beinn Iutharn Mhòr to which it is linked by a ridge 2½ miles long.

Carn Bhac itself is a complicated hill with an array of corries and ridges spurting out of every orifice. The main summit ridge runs southwest to northeast, skirting round the rim of Coire Bhearnaist. The true summit lies at the northeast corner of the ridge.

In the southwest the summit ridge splits north and south: the north section runs to subsidiary top Geal Charn before curving west and dropping slowly to the surrounding glens. The south section continues over a long wide ridge to connect to Beinn Iutharn Mhòr.

Coire Bhearnaist is a corrie cutting deep into the summit ridge, and provide’s the mountain’s greatest spectacle.

Ascents

The corrie apart, the mountain is rounded and with no technical difficulties to the climber; the ridges are wide and easy slopes surround the mountain. The best views are to the north whence spreads a grand, broad view of the Cairngorm range.

Carn Bhac is usually climbed along with its neighbour, Beinn Iutharn Mhòr. The most frequent route to the hill is by a long walk or cycle in to Altanour Lodge from Inverey in the north. This is on a good path and distance can be covered quickly. From the lodge the walker may go northwest straight to Carn Bhac, up its wide eastern ridge, or southeast to climb Beinn Iutharn Mhòr first.