The Cairnwell

The Cairnwell
Aberdeenshire, Perthshire
The north-eastern side of The Cairnwell as seen from near Sron na Gaoithe.
Range:	Cairnwell Hills
Summit:	3,061 feet NO134773 56°52’44"N, 3°25’21"W

The Cairnwell is a mountain on the border of Aberdeenshire with Perthshire, which reaches a height of 3,061 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro. It is one of the Cairnwell Hills, part of the wider Grampian range

The name appears English, but it is from the Gaelic name An Càrn Bhailg, meaning "The Bag-Shaped Cairn". It stands south of Braemar, its summit marking the county border, which runs along the mountain ridge south of Braemar. It is often considered to be one of the most spoiled of the Munros, due to the Glenshee Ski Centre which covers the eastern slope of the mountain.

The Cairnwell is usually climbed from the Glen Shee ski centre, which is at a height of 2,130 ft, making this probably the easiest Munro to climb. It is often climbed with Carn Aosda.

A local rhyme has it:

Cur is cathadh am Bealach Dearg, sneachd is reòthadh an Càrn a' Bhalg, cùl ri gaoith air Làirig Bhealaich, grian gheal am Maoilinn,

Drifts and storms at Bealach Dearg, Snow and frost at the Cairnwell, Back to the wind at Làirig Bhealaich, Bright sun at Moulin.

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about The Cairnwell)