Broad Cairn

Broad Cairn
Aberdeenshire, Angus
Loch Muick from Broad Cairn - geograph.org.uk - 83546.jpg
Range:	Lochnagar
Summit:	3,274 feet NO240815

Broad Cairn is a mountain on the border of Aberdeenshire with Angus, which reaches a height of 3,274 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro.

This is a fine looking Munro best viewed from the northeast along Loch Muick and the hills of the White Mounth. The summit is a stretched cone with ridges running east and west; the west ridge leads to subsidiary peak named the Cairn of Gowal before heading northwest to neighbouring Munro, Cairn Bannoch. The east ridge leads slowly to Coire Chash, which ridge is a normal route of ascent from Loch Muick.

The grandest part of the mountain is not the summit but Creag an Dubh Loch, a subsidiary peak northwest of the summit. This top is perched precariously over extremely steep crags that drop sharply to a little loch called Dubh Loch. This is a fine site and gives Broad Cairn great character when viewed from the hills of the White Mounth to the north.

Ascents

Broad Cairn is normally climbed in conjunction with Cairn Bannoch to the northwest. This round of Munros is an easy expedition and should offer great views throughout. Be prepared however for quite a long walk in.

A common starting point is from the Spittal of Glen Muick to the northeast of Broad Cairn. From here you need to walk the length of Loch Muick before you can attain Broad Cairn's eastern summit ridge.