Cairn Bannoch

Cairn Bannoch is a Munro in the Grampian Mountains, standing 1012 metres high. It lies on the border between Aberdeenshire and Angus, about 15 kilometres south-west of Ballater and 12 kilometres south-east of Braemar. The mountain sits on the wide high plateau of the White Mounth, where the highest point is the nearby Lochnagar to the north-east. The summit itself is a broad, gentle rise topped by a rocky crest that stands only about 50 metres above the surrounding plateau. The plateau stretches north-west to the 1047-metre Munro Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr, and south-west it ends at steep cliffs above Glen Callater. On the east side, cliffs drop to the Dubh Loch above Loch Muick, while the Burn of Fafernie rises between two lower tops, Fafernie and Cairn of Gowal. Beyond Cairn of Gowal lies the next Munro, Broad Cairn, at 998 metres. All routes to Cairn Bannoch involve long walks from remote starting points. One common start is Spittal of Glenmuick at the north end of Loch Muick, from where the mountain can be reached via Lochnagar. Another way follows the loch’s eastern shore and crosses Broad Cairn. From the west or north-west, routes begin near Auchallater or Keiloch on the A93 and cross the plateau to the north-west side before climbing to the summit.