Càrn Bhac

Carn Bhac
Aberdeenshire, Perthshire
Range:	Cairnwell Hills
Summit:	3,104 feet NO051832 56°55’49"N, 3°33’39"W

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 south-west to north-east, skirting round the rim of Coire Bhearnaist. The true summit lies at the north-east corner of the ridge.

In the south-west 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 north-west straight to Carn Bhac, up its wide eastern ridge, or south-east to climb Beinn Iutharn Mhòr first.