Càrn an Rìgh

Càrn an Rìgh, at 1,029 metres — "the King's Cairn" — is the lower of a pair of Munros usually climbed from the Spittal of Glenshee, sitting in the heart of truly wild country with fine views of Beinn a' Ghlò to the west.

Reached from Glas Tulaichean via a stalkers' path across boggier slopes to a bealach at 771 metres, the ascent tackles the slopes opposite — made less steep by keeping a little to the left initially before a final, more direct climb across short grass and stones to the summit cairn. Despite being the lower of the two Munros in this pairing, Càrn an Rìgh has a notably wilder, more remote feel than its neighbour, its position deep in the empty lands of the Mounth between Beinn a' Ghlò and Glen Shee giving genuine solitude.

From the summit, most walkers retrace their steps to the bealach and along the stalkers' path below Mam nan Càrn — this path peters out into boggy ground before reappearing, heading towards the south side of Loch nan Eun, a surprisingly extensive and atmospheric lonely loch at almost 800 metres. From here, a good view opens down the length of Gleann Taitneach, the usual route of descent, keeping to the left of the stream on a boggy path down the first steep section before a bulldozed track is picked up further down the glen.

For those with energy remaining, Beinn Iutharn Mhòr can be added as a third Munro via a developing traverse path around the northern flank of Mam nan Càrn — a route that looks awkward on paper but proves considerably more straightforward than expected in practice.

The combined round taking in both Glas Tulaichean and Càrn an Rìgh from Dalmunzie is typically seven to nine hours; adding Beinn Iutharn Mhòr extends this to around ten hours over roughly 32 kilometres.

This is remote, boggy terrain with largely faint or absent paths beyond the main stalkers' route — full navigation skills are valuable, particularly given how easily the featureless ground around the various bealachs can disorientate in poor visibility.

Parking at the Dalmunzie estate drive is free; a daily bus service runs between Dundee/Blairgowrie and Aberdeen/Braemar past the Spittal of Glenshee.