Culardoch and Carn Liath, from Keiloch

These two rounded Corbetts on the fringes of the Cairngorms are conveniently climbed together. Culardoch offers extensive views into Aberdeenshire whereas Carn Liath is a belvedere for admiring the granite tors of nearby giants Ben Avon and Beinn a'Bhuird.

Terrain

Good track for approach. The two hills have rounded, heather-covered slopes with some pathless sections, with boggy ground in places on Carn Liath.

Public Transport

Bus to Keiloch

Users' reports

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Start

Car park at Keiloch (charge). Map and directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 22km/13.75 miles
Time: 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 853m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NO188912

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Culardoch
Corbett: Carn Liath

Maps / GPS

View / Print route map
Buy Explorer 403 - Cairn Gorm
GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
GPS Waypoints - GPX
View in 3D
Download walk to Google Earth (KMZ file)

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a car park for walkers at Keiloch on the Invercauld Estate a short distance off the A93; a charge is made. Begin the walk along the tarmac lane signed as a public footpath towards the Linn of Quoich. Continue straight ahead along this road, passing the attractive estate houses. The impressive hulk ahead is Beinn a' Bhuird. Once almost opposite the grand Invercauld House amongst the trees, turn right onto a track that climbs amongst the pines - it is signed as a right of way to Tomintoul via Loch Builg. The track soon forks - keep left here, following the orange marker. The woodland becomes an attractively scattered mix of birches and old pines as height is gradually gained.

Stage 2

When the track forks again take the left branch - ignoring the waymarker. The route then passes through a gate and into a denser area of pines, with a larger track joining in from the left before more open moorland is reached and the distance dome of Culardoch comes into view ahead. The track drops slightly and passes a few old pines before climbing gently and crossing a bridge over the Allt Cul.

Stage 3

Ignore a smaller track branching off right and instead stay on the main route. Just before it reaches the Bealach Dearg the track passes the site of an old hut - now just a concrete base. Ignore a cairn where a path branches off left to descend the far side of the pass, and instead stay on the track which climbs up to a flat shoulder of Culardoch. At the time of writing a group of mesh and plastic cloches stand on the moorland to the right here - some sort of experiment on the growth of vegetation. At NO185987 the track turns sharply left; leave it here and instead continue ahead on a fainter track towards the upper slopes of Culardoch.

Stage 4

This track peters out on the northern flanks of the hill, so leave it and aim up the heather slopes; higher up there is a worn path. The summit is marked by a trig point and has extensive views eastwards into Aberdeenshire, with Morven prominent. To the south, Lochnagar looks mightily impressive, whilst the great tor-spattered mass of Ben Avon closes the view northwest. Retrace your steps back to the track and almost all the way back to the concrete platform near the bealach.

Stage 5

Just before reaching the platform leave the track and aim west - initially over boggy ground - to begin the ascent of Carn Liath. Higher up the terrain becomes dry and stonier underfoot. There is a small cairn marking point 857m, but the summit is around 300m further on at a small outcrop. This is regarded as the top of the mountain though there is a second, rather featureless summit at the same height around 1km to the northwest - which some careful baggers may decide to include. Carn Liath gives a better view of Ben Avon and Beinn a'Bhuird than its neighbour.

Stage 6

The easiest return is to once again retrace your steps to the main track, but the descent can be varied by continuing along the broad south ridge, keeping to the right of a substantial drystone wall. Another cairn is soon passed which gives a good view of upper Deeside and Braemar. Continue downhill, keeping a little to the right of the wall. As the ground begins to drop more steeply towards the bealach with Creag a'Chait cross the wall at a gap and descend the heathery slopes to the east, crossing some boggy ground and a small burn just before the outward track is regained. Turn right and retrace your steps along the track all the way back to the start.

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.