Càrn Mòr from Scalan
Hillwalking route from Scalan in Glenlivet up the Corbett Càrn Mòr in the Ladder Hills and to the Lecht ski centre while exploring past lives and histories.
Route outline
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| Ascent | 450m (1470ft) | |||
| Distance | 6km (4m) | |||
| Time | 2:15hr | |||
| Start | Scalan, Glenlivet Grid Ref : NJ274201 | |||
| Finish | Lecht Mine Grid Ref : NJ234152 | |||
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The line of the Ladder Hills travel from the Lecht north-eastwards above Glenlivet, with Càrn Mòr being the highest point on this range. With Càrn Mòr's summit being just over 150m above the Lecht Ski Centre, most people will head up the hill from there, but this is a rather tedious hike over featureless terrain.
This route, which starts from The Scalan in Glenlivet and heads over Càrn Mòr and the high ground of the Ladder Hills to The Lecht, adds interest by visiting some lonely remnants of past lives and histories.
Show map
Route description
1. Getting to Scalan
The Scalan below Càrn Mor
North-east of Tomintoul, the B9008 travels over moorland and through Glen Livet toward Bridge of Avon in Speyside. On this road, 7km north-east of Tomintoul, Auchnarrow is reached, where a narrow road heads south-east to the Braes of Glenlivet.
Driving down the narrow road with passing places for around 5km reaches Chapeltown and the Braeval Whisky distillery. Shortly thereafter, the public road ends by a turning circle aside a rather tired farm building.
A sign points the way up a rough potholed track to a parking area where there is room for around 10 vehicles, by a large information board provided by the Crown Estate.
2. Càrn Mor
View from a grouse-butt, looking to Ben Rinnes
From the car-park, follow the track as it contunes south-east around a plantation (much of which has been devastated by storms) and over farmland towards the old College of Scalan 
. Well worth having a nebb around, this was not only a farming community up until the early 2000's but was also where a secret seminary stood where Catholic priests were trained in the 1700's.
At the back of The Scalan, a dilapidated gate stands under some trees - head over this gate and follow a fence and some old draining systems uphill. The fence meets with another fence crossing its path - through a gate, turn left and follow the fence for around 500m north-east until you meet with a line of grouse-butts 
heading up Càrn Mòr's north-west face.
A faint path can be traced connecting these butts, above which pathless heathery ground is climbed for a further 100m or so. The ground levels and a small lochan 
is met, ahead is the final push up Càrn Mòr with a path to follow.
Approaching Càrn Mòr's summit
a lonely trig point stands exposed to the elements.Approaching Càrn Mòr's summit
3. Lecht Mine and alternatives
Lecht Mine
From Càrn Mor, follow a worn footpath travelling south-westwards along its crest. After around 1km, there's a slight rise up to a minor top, Monadh an t-Sluich Lèith 
, followed by a drop to a shallow bealach where options present themselves.
A fine option if transport can be arranged, is to beging by aiming due west which leads down into Coire Buidhe, where a faint path can be picked up 
and followed above the west bank of a burn to Lecht Mine 
. A path then leads southwards to the roadside around 3km north of the Lecht Ski Centre.
Alternatively, from the bealach hike south-west to pick up a line of fence-posts. Tracing faint paths and trods aside these posts will end up on top of a moderately steep grass and heather clad descent directly to the Lecht Ski Centre.
By Clash of Scalan looking to Corryhabbie Hill and Cook's Cairn
, where a signposted route leads via Wester Scalan to The Scalan and back the car-park.By Clash of Scalan looking to Corryhabbie Hill and Cook's Cairn
Route profile »
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Weather forecasts »
| Regional | MWIS - Cairngorms and Monadhliath |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | SAIS - Northern Cairngorms Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
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The Buck from Elrick | |
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Càrn Ealasaid from the Lecht | |
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Ladylea Hill from Invernettie | |
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Ben Rinnes from Glen Rinnes and Dufftown | |
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