Broad Cairn

Broad Cairn is a Munro standing at 998 metres in the Grampian Mountains, where it marks the boundary between Aberdeenshire and Angus. It sits on the wide high plateau called the White Mounth, fifteen kilometres south-west of Ballater and fifteen kilometres south-east of Braemar. The plateau’s highest point, Lochnagar, lies to the north-east, while Broad Cairn is the south-easternmost summit on this open upland. Its cone-shaped top rises above steep cliffs on the north side known as Creag an Dubh-loch, which fall sharply to the Dubh Loch above Loch Muick.

The mountain is separated from its neighbour Cairn Bannoch by a broad col that drops to 934 metres, beyond which Coire Uilleim Mhoir leads down to the same loch. A short, broad southern ridge is little noticed, and the wide eastern ridge called Little Craig leads to lower hills at the plateau’s edge, most of which are below 800 metres. Water from its slopes feeds the South Esk, whose headwaters rise on Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch before flowing through Glen Clova.

All routes to the summit start from remote places. Walkers often begin at Spittal of Glenmuick at the northern end of Loch Muick, following the loch’s shore to reach the mountain. Others take a round route via Lochnagar and the western Munros of the White Mounth. From the south, the South Esk valley offers another approach, starting from the road end at Glendoll Lodge. The long walks across open moorland and along loch shores make the climb a quiet, unfrequented journey.