Càrn Bhac

Càrn Bhac, at 946 metres, is a rounded, rather shapeless mountain deep in the wilds of the Mounth south of Inverey, one of the least visited Munros — quiet, contemplative territory offering a genuine escape from busier hills elsewhere, with a grandstand view of the southern Cairngorms despite its own modest, unremarkable form.

The route starts from a small car park in Inverey — a remote community that was the last place in eastern Scotland where Gaelic was spoken, in the 1930s, split by the Ey Burn into Protestant Meikle Inverey and Catholic Little Inverey. A track heads south-west along Glen Ey, past a grand house and through a gate towards the burn, before a right-hand branch climbs to Càrn nan Seileach on a good track. Beyond, a maze of muddier tracks and paths leads up the glen, crossing the Alltan Odhar before climbing an ill-defined ridge to a flattening marked by grouse butts. Continuing north-west and then north, leaving wetter ground behind, a final short pull reaches the cairn on Càrn Bhac's stony summit plateau — several cairns are scattered across the top, with the true highest point requiring a wander between them to be sure.

The mountain is often combined with the equally rounded Beinn Iutharn Mhòr via a long, remote traverse of peat-hagged terrain between the two, though the direct approach and return via Glen Ey alone also makes for a satisfying, quieter day; the descent can vary, with some walkers continuing the ridge west to Geal Chàrn before looping back, or descending more directly via a steep buttress to the north-east.

The round trip from Inverey, whether direct or extended with a ridge traverse, is typically six to eight hours; the long walk-in up Glen Ey — around 22 kilometres round trip for the standard route — deters many, giving this quieter corner of the Mounth its particular appeal.

Beyond the main Glen Ey track, paths are largely faint or absent, and navigation skills will genuinely be tested in poor visibility, particularly on the broad, featureless ground linking Càrn Bhac with its neighbours — full route-finding confidence is valuable given the remote nature of this whole area.

Parking at Inverey is free; the nearest bus stop is in Braemar.