Cairn Gorm

Cairn Gorm, at 1,245 metres, is the sixth highest mountain in Britain and the most accessible of the high Cairngorms, giving its name to the whole mountain range.

The most direct route follows the Windy Ridge path from the Cairngorm Mountain car park near Aviemore, climbing past the Ptarmigan Station to the summit, which is marked by a cairn and a small weather station building. A more scenic and slightly longer route heads out via the rim of Coire an t-Sneachda and Coire an Lochain first, taking in dramatic cliff-top views before joining the summit ridge from the west.

Many walkers combine Cairn Gorm with neighbouring Ben Macdui via the broad plateau that connects them, making an excellent full day out on the roof of the Cairngorms.

The direct route out and back is around 8 kilometres and takes three to four hours; the fuller round via the northern corries and on to Ben Macdui is closer to 17.5 kilometres and takes six to eight hours.

The paths on Cairn Gorm itself are generally good and well used, but the plateau beyond is wide, exposed, and easy to misjudge in poor visibility — the corrie edges nearby have been the site of fatal accidents in icy or white-out conditions, so care is needed near Coire an Lochain and Coire an t-Sneachda in particular.

Parking at the Cairngorm Mountain car park is chargeable, and a bus service runs from Aviemore.