Càrn Liath

Càrn Liath is a Munro standing 1,006 metres above sea level in the Monadh Liath range of the northern Grampian Mountains. It lies in Highland council area, about 20 kilometres west of Dalwhinnie and 20 kilometres north-east of Spean Bridge. The summit overlooks Loch Laggan and Glen Spean on the range’s southern edge. Its Gaelic name means ‘grey hill’, and it shares the long eastern ridge of Coire Ardair with nearby peaks such as Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh. The mountain belongs to Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, established in 1986 to protect its rich flora and fauna across nearly 4,000 hectares. Winter snow lingers in north-facing corries well into summer, creating arctic conditions on the summit plateau. The vegetation resembles northern tundra, dominated by mosses and grasses rather than trees. Hill-walkers often include Càrn Liath in a horseshoe route that also takes in Stob Poite Coire Ardair and Creag Meagaidh, starting from a small settlement called Aberarder on the A86. The route climbs into Coire Ardair before ascending the southern ridge to the stony summit plateau marked by a cairn. From there the ridge widens and continues east over several lower tops, including Meall an t-Snaim and A’ Bhuidheanach, before dropping toward Glen Spey. The plateau’s southern spur leads down toward Loch Laggan, ending at a lower top called Na Cnapanan. The corries on the east and north sides drop away in steep, rocky walls, while the rest of the ridge falls gently through grass and heather slopes back to the starting point.