Mount Keen

Mount Keen stands in the eastern Grampians of Aberdeenshire as the most easterly Munro. It rises to 939 metres and can be reached from Glen Mark to the south, Glen Tanar to the north or Braid Cairn to the east. The usual start is at Aboyne where a wide forestry track leads through Caledonian pine woods. From the track the mountain’s slopes are climbed on a moderate walk. On clear days the Cairngorms and Lochnagar appear on the western skyline. The path is well made for most of the way, especially on the Aboyne–Glen Tanar route. Near the top the going becomes rockier and in winter ice can make it slippery. A trig point marks the summit where walkers find good mobile reception for several networks. East of the summit a steep drop warns of caution in icy conditions, and large boulders offer limited shelter. The summit also holds a replacement footbridge that was rebuilt after the original was washed away in 2002. The bridge now improves access to this popular mountain. From the top the views stretch across Aberdeenshire’s glens and forests.