Càrn Mairg

Càrn Mairg, at 1,041-1,042 metres — "Cairn of Sorrow" — is the highest and most distinctive of the four Munros on the Glen Lyon ridge above Invervar, its summit alone among the group possessing small crags and a genuinely shapely form.

Reached from Meall Garbh via fence posts across largely flat ground, the ridge narrows and becomes rockier as it climbs south-east to the summit — the most technically demanding section of the whole circuit, with a boulder field requiring careful footing on the final approach. Two cairns mark the top, with a small tor just beyond well worth exploring for its views down Glen Lyon and across to the Ben Lawers range.

Leaving the summit demands care to avoid crags and steep ground — heading east initially until gentler terrain is reached is the safest line, before a faint path leads south-east and then south down to the next bealach. From here, the path climbs steadily south to the summit ridge of the fourth Munro, known either as Meall na Aighean or, in the older Munro's Tables terminology still found on some maps, Creag Mhòr — the descent path from Càrn Mairg towards this final summit is initially indistinct, so care with map or GPS is worthwhile here.

The full four-Munro circuit — Càrn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Càrn Mairg, and Meall na Aighean — from Invervar is around 22 kilometres with roughly 1,476 metres of ascent, typically eight to nine hours, with Càrn Mairg widely regarded as the technical and scenic highlight of the day.

The boulder field on the approach to the summit and the crags on the eastern side both demand genuine care, particularly in icy conditions when the typical descent route can become treacherously slippery — several regular visitors report choosing to contour around such icy sections on a slightly longer but safer line.

The Invervar car park is small and fills quickly; overflow parking is available around 1 kilometre further up the road. There is no public transport to the start.