Mounth

The Mounth is a broad upland in northeast Scotland, stretching between the Highland Boundary and the River Dee. It lies at the eastern end of the Grampians and forms a high plateau marked by deep glacial valleys. The land rises to Glas Maol and Lochnagar, two of the region’s most prominent peaks. To the east the plateau lowers into moorland cut by river valleys such as Glen Esk and Glen Tanar. This upland once acted as a natural barrier separating the northeast from the Scottish Lowlands.

The Mounth has played a key role in Scotland’s history and movement. In the Middle Ages the Causey Mounth was built as a rock causeway to cross the boggy eastern section. In 1639 an army of nine thousand Covenanters marched this route under Earl Marischal and the Marquess of Montrose. The plateau also contains ancient tracks like the Builg Mounth and the Capel Mounth, used for centuries by travellers and drovers.

Today the Mounth offers wide open landscapes and quiet glens for walking. Visitors find undisturbed moorland, deep valleys and sweeping views across the Cairngorms National Park. Historic routes such as the Cairnwell Road and Jock’s Road remain visible, linking remote settlements. The area is best known for its glacial troughs and the granite dome of Lochnagar. Its eastern edge drops to coastal cliffs near Stonehaven and Aberdeen, completing a varied upland setting.