Description

The summit of Cairn Bannoch is a gentle rise on a broad plateau, that runs from Cairn of Gowal (983m) and Fafernie (1000m) north-west towards Carn an t-Sagairt Mor. 1.5km to the south-west lie the crags of Creag Leachdach on the steep slopes of Glen Callater and 1km to the east lie the crags of Creag an Dubh-loch.

Cairn Bannoch has a broad south-east ridge to Cairn of Gowal from where a broad col connects to Broad Cairn. Normal access is by path from Broad Cairn, but for a longer approach you may use Jock’s Road from Glen Callater or Glen Doll.

The name for the mountain, to the west of Loch Muick on the border between Angus and Abedeenshire, is derived from the Gaelic for “peaked hill”, which is appropriate since its summit takes the form of a cone-shaped granite point.