Cairn Bannoch

Cairn Bannoch
Aberdeenshire, Angus
Cairn Bannoch summit
Range:	The Mounth
Summit:	3,320 feet NO222825 56°55’38"N, 3°16’47"W

Cairn Bannoch is a mountain on the border of Aberdeenshire with Angus, which reaches a height of 3,320 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro.

The name means "Cake Hill".

This is a rounded Munro that is normally climbed in conjunction with Broad Cairn, the two connected by a high col from the south-east ridge of Cairn Bannoch. These hills are on the south-eastern edge of a large plateau taking in more Munros to the north known as the White Mounth.

The summit of Cairn Bannoch is nothing more than a large swelling on the plateau and the Munro is quite reserved with little in the way of technical difficulties.

To the north-east of the summit there is a set of crags known as Creag an Dubh Loch, which are actually a subsidiary top of Broad Cairn but are closer to Cairn Bannoch. These slopes are extremely steep and craggy dropping sharply to Dubh Loch below; an impressive site when seen form the north-east.

Ascent

To the south of the summit a broad ridge leads to Cairn of Gowal before heading east to neighbouring Broad Cairn. This is the usual access route to the summit of Cairn Bannoch. Most people access these hills from the Spittal of Glen Muick to the north-east where there is parking available. From here a long walk drags along the length of Loch Muick to attain the eastern ridge Broad Cairn.