Corryhabbie Hill and Cook's Cairn from Glenlivet
Hiking route up Corryhabbie Hill and Cook's Cairn from Glenlivet. Estate tracks and signposts ease navigation, with heather bashing between the two.
Route outline
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| Fionas | ||||
| Ascent | 930m (3050ft) | |||
| Distance | 24km (15m) | |||
| Time | 7:25hr* | |||
| Start/finish | End of public road in Glenlivet Grid Ref : NJ236249 | |||
| Terrain |
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| Nav |
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| Effort |
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| Scenery |
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Corryhabbie Hill can be climbed directly from Glen Rinnes, but the route described here approaches instead from Glenlivet, following estate tracks and well signposted rights of way for a more varied outing.
The circuit also includes the nearby Fiona of Cook's Cairn, with some fun to be had bounding through deep heather between the two summits.
A bike can be used to reach the foot of the hills and even to gain the summit of Cook's Cairn. Although it is possible to cycle to Corryhabbie Hill’s summit from this side, the approach from Glen Fiddich offers a gentler gradient for those intent on riding all the way.
The circuit also includes the nearby Fiona of Cook's Cairn, with some fun to be had bounding through deep heather between the two summits.
A bike can be used to reach the foot of the hills and even to gain the summit of Cook's Cairn. Although it is possible to cycle to Corryhabbie Hill’s summit from this side, the approach from Glen Fiddich offers a gentler gradient for those intent on riding all the way.
Route description
1. Getting to Glenlivet

In Glenlivet
Tomintoul is the highest village in the Highlands and sits in the north-eastern corner of the Cairngorm National Park around 10 miles south-eat of Grantown on Spey.
From Tomintoul, the B9008 travels northwards to Glenlivet and the small village of Tomnavoulin. Just north of the village is a narrow unclassified road heading south-eastwards following the River Livet upstream for around 4km.
This road ends just before a bridge over the Allt Dregnie, where there is a car-parking area with an information board.
From Tomintoul, the B9008 travels northwards to Glenlivet and the small village of Tomnavoulin. Just north of the village is a narrow unclassified road heading south-eastwards following the River Livet upstream for around 4km.
This road ends just before a bridge over the Allt Dregnie, where there is a car-parking area with an information board.
2. Cook's Cairn

Ruin of Suie below Carn na Bruar
Leave car-park and head on an estate road over bridge on the Allt Dregnie and keep right at the fork immediately after the bridge. A short distance later, the estate road, now more of a track, comes to another junction
- turn right and follow a rougher track towards River Livet.
As the track approaches a ford and a bridge over River Livet, turn left and follow faint ATV tracks over grass by the northern bank of river. Passing a couple of fields, the edge of woodland is reached with a sign pointing the way through the trees to fence with a stile.
Across a field and through another small patch of forestry, the path meets with the estate track from Achdregnie and heads down to the River Livet to cross via bridge
. Now on south bank of river, follow the estate track past a couple of buildings, through a gate and continue onwards for the next 3km or so.
Passing a split in the track
for the house at Grayknowe, a ford
over the River Livet is reached - it should be straightforward to cross, but if not, there is a bridge
500m upstream, directly below the house at Knochkan.
Through a gate
in a deer fence, the track heads up to the ruin of Suie
, then comes to junction
with a signpost. Take the right fork (marked to 'The Steplar', the old drove road to Cabrach) and climb gently for the next 2km or so with wind turbines on the skyline coming into view.
The col
between Càrn na Bruar and Cook's Cairn is reached and the track comes to a junction, with a sign post indicating a left-turn for Cook's Cairn. The track leads directly to the summit
.
A small pile of boulders on flat heather-clad ground mark's Cook's Cairn summit, where views are towards Ben Rinnes and the Moray Coast to the north and overlook a windfarm to the east.

- turn right and follow a rougher track towards River Livet.
As the track approaches a ford and a bridge over River Livet, turn left and follow faint ATV tracks over grass by the northern bank of river. Passing a couple of fields, the edge of woodland is reached with a sign pointing the way through the trees to fence with a stile.
Across a field and through another small patch of forestry, the path meets with the estate track from Achdregnie and heads down to the River Livet to cross via bridge
. Now on south bank of river, follow the estate track past a couple of buildings, through a gate and continue onwards for the next 3km or so.
Passing a split in the track
for the house at Grayknowe, a ford
over the River Livet is reached - it should be straightforward to cross, but if not, there is a bridge
500m upstream, directly below the house at Knochkan.
Through a gate
in a deer fence, the track heads up to the ruin of Suie
, then comes to junction
with a signpost. Take the right fork (marked to 'The Steplar', the old drove road to Cabrach) and climb gently for the next 2km or so with wind turbines on the skyline coming into view.
The col
between Càrn na Bruar and Cook's Cairn is reached and the track comes to a junction, with a sign post indicating a left-turn for Cook's Cairn. The track leads directly to the summit
.

Cook's Cairn

Cook's Cairn
3. Corryhabbie Hill

On the slopes of Corryhabbie Hill, looking to Càrn Allt a' Chlaiginn
On Cook's Cairn, turn north-west and descend the hills heather-clad slopes. There is no path to follow and heather becomes quite dense as height is lost.
The track crossing from Glen Suie to Glenfiddich
is reached by its highest point. Aim directly up the hillside ahead over more heather and pick up another rougher track
zig-zagging uphill (I made a direct line rather than sticking to the track).
The track reaches Corryhabbie Hill's crest around 200m north-east of its summit
, where a trig point sits on top sheltered by a wall of stones and boulders. Fine views in all directions.

The track crossing from Glen Suie to Glenfiddich
is reached by its highest point. Aim directly up the hillside ahead over more heather and pick up another rougher track
zig-zagging uphill (I made a direct line rather than sticking to the track).

On the summit of Corryhabbie Hill looking to Ben Rinnes
, where a trig point sits on top sheltered by a wall of stones and boulders. Fine views in all directions.
On the summit of Corryhabbie Hill looking to Ben Rinnes
4. Return

River Livet
From Corryhabbie Hill's summit, cross the crest south-west for short distance to then turn southwards and begin to lose height. Terrain is mainly of a light covering of grass and heather - a delight to run downhill.
The track
in Glen Suie is met and followed back to the ruin at Suie
from where re-trace your route back to the car-park by the end of the public road.
The track
in Glen Suie is met and followed back to the ruin at Suie
from where re-trace your route back to the car-park by the end of the public road.GPX downloads and maps
Paper maps:
OS Landranger 37
OS Explorer OL62
Route profile
Weather forecasts
| Regional | MWIS - Cairngorms and Monadhliath |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | SAIS - Northern Cairngorms Midge forecast |
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* Times shown are estimates – see timing notes on the disclaimer page for more information.




