Càrn Mòr Dearg

Càrn Mòr Dearg is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, part of the Ben Nevis massif. Its name means ‘great red cairn’ in Scottish Gaelic. It stands just north-east of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak. The mountain forms the eastern ridge of a horseshoe-shaped massif with two smaller neighbours. Càrn Dearg Meadhanach and Càrn Beag Dearg share the same red-cairn theme in their names. The mountain is best known for its arête, a narrow ridge linking it to Ben Nevis. Walkers often follow the CMD arête as part of a challenging horseshoe route. Ski mountaineers and off-piste skiers also visit in winter. From nearby Nevis Range, the summit can be reached in under two hours when snow conditions allow. The eastern side has three fine bowls for graded descents. Visitors find a rocky summit with wide views across the Highlands. The CMD arête offers thrilling scrambling along a narrow crest. Snow sports enthusiasts descend long, gentle slopes when snow cover is good. The nearby CIC Hut provides shelter for those tackling the full circuit. The mountain’s red granite glows in low evening light, marking the end of a long day on the hill.