Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts at the Braeloine car park in Glen Tanar and goes out and back. It crosses the Bridge of Tanar and follows the estate track up the glen, through the pinewood of the Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve, past the Half Way Hut, an open shelter, and over several bridges across the Water of Tanar to the head of the glen. The old Mounth road then climbs onto the moor, and a path leads up the dome of Mount Keen (939 m). Return the same way.
It is 29.4 km with 786 m of ascent; allow about 9½ hours. The grade is Strenuous because of the distance: the track is good and the climbing is spread over many kilometres, so it is a day of steady walking rather than of steep ground.
The summit is high, bare moorland: in cloud or snow it can be hard to find the path, and the wind can be fierce. This is Glen Tanar estate ground, where stalking runs from 1 July to 15 February; the Heading for the Scottish Hills table says the main path from the end of the tarred road is always fine, and asks walkers to avoid the Garbh Coire path while stalking is under way. See the notice. Mount Keen can also be climbed from Glen Esk, on its south side, in a shorter walk.
The Braeloine car park is a pay car park (OpenStreetMap lists a fee).
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The most easterly Munro, climbed from the north by the old Mounth road through Glen Tanar
- The first miles run through the Caledonian pinewood of Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve
- A long estate track with several bridges over the Water of Tanar, then a path up the dome to the summit
- Mount Keen is also climbed from Glen Esk on its south side, a shorter walk
Summits on the way
- Mount Keen 939 m
Getting there
Start: Braeloine car park, Glen Tanar · Pay and display. 57.05708, -2.85969
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Braeloine car park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
