Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais up Cairn Gorm: route map, distance and time
1,245 m · Cairngorms
Cairn Gorm is the Munro above Aviemore that gives the Cairngorms their name, climbed from the ski centre car park by a ridge path past the funicular.
A path climbs the ridge on the west side of Coire Cas to the summit.
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais starts at about 629 m and gains 607 m over 3.5 km to 1,233 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 231 m (23%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 231 m at an average of 23%. It keeps climbing at 11% to the top. About 32% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais at a glance
| Distance | 3.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 620 m |
| Climb on the track | 607 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 629 m to 1,236 m (summit 1,245 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 26%, from 0.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 32% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Coire Cas car park, Cairngorm Mountain, PH22 1RB |
| Start grid reference | NH 989 060 |
| Summit grid reference | NJ 005 040 |
| Parking | Coire Cas car park, Cairngorm Mountain; the postcode is approximate |
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 860 m | +231 m | 23% steep | NH 997 058 |
| 2 km | 1,020 m | +160 m | 16% | NJ 003 052 |
| 3 km | 1,180 m | +160 m | 16% | NJ 007 044 |
| 3.5 km | 1,233 m | +53 m | 11% | NJ 005 040 |
How long Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 0m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:56, sunset 18:02. Start by 14:37 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:59, sunset 17:59. Start by 14:34 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Cairn Gorm summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 34 mph gusting 43 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:56, sunset 18:02.
-
Poor Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Dense drizzle, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 43 mph gusting 54 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:59, sunset 17:59.
Best day of the next seven for Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais: Thursday 22 October, with summit gusts around 26 mph and a 39% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Cairn Gorm forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Cairn Gorm?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Cairngorms and Monadhliath forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · SAIS Northern Cairngorms avalanche report.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 100% chance of rain.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 43 mph.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm is the Munro above Aviemore that gives the Cairngorms their name, climbed from the ski centre car park by a ridge path past the funicular. More about Cairn Gorm, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Munro, HuMP.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Cnap Coire na Spreidhe (1,152 m), 1.2 km north-east
- Stob Coire an t-Sneachda (1,176 m), 1.4 km south-west
- Cairn Lochan (1,214 m), 2.5 km south-west
- Stacan Dubha (1,014 m), 2.6 km south
- A Choinneach (1,017 m), 2.8 km east
- A' Choinneach (1,017 m), 2.8 km east
Challenges that include Cairn Gorm
More walks from Coire Cas car park, Cairngorm Mountain
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Cairngorm ski centre via Cairn Lochan up Ben Macdui
Other routes up Cairn Gorm
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coire Cas via Windy Ridge | 3.6 km one way | 616 m | 1h 45m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NH 989 060, the summit at NJ 005 040), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais: questions and answers
How far is Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais?
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais is 3.5 km one way to the summit of Cairn Gorm, with 620 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.0 km.
How long does Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Cairn Gorm and 2h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 0m for the round trip.
How steep is Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais?
The steepest 500 m averages about 26%, starting 0.2 km from the start, and 32% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais climbs 607 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais?
Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais starts from Coire Cas car park, Cairngorm Mountain (postcode PH22 1RB). The grid reference is NH 989 060. Coire Cas car park, Cairngorm Mountain; the postcode is approximate
Is Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais today?
By 14:37 at the latest. Sunset on Cairn Gorm today is 18:02, Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais takes about 2h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.