Cairn Toul

Cairn Toul
Aberdeenshire
Cairn Toul from Braeriach, with Lochan Uaine
Range:	Cairngorms
Summit:	4,236 feet NN963972 57°3’15"N, 3°42’40"W

Cairn Toul is the fourth-highest mountain in Great Britain; surpassed only by Ben Nevis, Ben Macdhui and Braeriach. It is the second highest point in the western massif of the Cairngorms, linked by a bealach at around 3,690 feet above sea level to Braeriach.

The mountain towers above the western side pass of the Lairig Ghru.

Cairn Toul is often climbed on conjunction with other peaks. From the south, it may be combined with The Devil's Point, which lies a mile and a half south-south-east. Alternatively, it may be climbed from the north, including Braeriach and Sgor an Lochain Uaine. Both routes are long days by Highland standards: around 10 miles (plus return) regardless of whether one starts from Coire Cas above Speyside, or Linn of Dee to the south.

The mountain may also be climbed from the west, starting from Achlean in Glen Feshie. This provides for a slighter shorter route (17 miles for the round trip), though the walker must negotiate a large expanse of undulating boggy plateau in order to reach the Breariach-Cairn Toul massif.

There is a bothy, Corrour, at the point below Cairn Toul in the defile of the Lairig Grhu.