Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy up Cairn Toul: route map, distance and time
1,291 m · Cairngorms
Cairn Toul is the fourth-highest mountain in Britain, a pointed Cairngorm summit above the Lairig Ghru reached by long walks in from Braemar or Aviemore.
A long walk through Glen Luibeg into the Lairig Ghru, then a climb from Corrour Bothy onto the ridge.
Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy at a glance
| Distance | 16.7 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 1,036 m |
| Time up | 5h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 8h 25m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Linn of Dee car park |
| Start grid reference | NO 061 896 |
| Summit grid reference | NN 963 972 |
Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 4h 10m | 6h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 5h 5m | 8h 25m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 6h 15m | 10h 25m |
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 08:37 to be down before dark, allowing 8h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:00. Start by 08:35 to be down before dark, allowing 8h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Cairn Toul summit weather for this route
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Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°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
Slight rain, up to 4°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 45 mph gusting 56 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:59, sunset 18:00.
Best day of the next seven for Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy: Thursday 22 October, with summit gusts around 27 mph and a 39% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 0% (Low), best around 09:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Cairn Toul forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Cairn Toul?
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 -6°C on top.
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 100% chance of rain.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 43 mph.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- 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 Toul
Cairn Toul is the fourth-highest mountain in Britain, a pointed Cairngorm summit above the Lairig Ghru reached by long walks in from Braemar or Aviemore. More about Cairn Toul, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Munro, Marilyn.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Stob Coire an t-Saighdeir (1,213 m), 0.9 km south
- Sgor an Lochain Uaine (1,258 m), 1 km north-west
- The Devils Point (1,007 m), 2.5 km south-east
- The Devil's Point (1,007 m), 2.5 km south-east
- Carn na Criche (1,265 m), 2.6 km west
- Braeriach (1,296 m), 2.9 km north
Challenges that include Cairn Toul
More walks from Linn of Dee car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Linn of Dee via Loch Etchachan up Ben Macdui
- Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy and Cairn Toul up Sgor an Lochain Uaine
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NO 061 896, the summit at NN 963 972), 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.
Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy: questions and answers
How far is Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy?
Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy is 16.7 km one way to the summit of Cairn Toul, with 1,036 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 33.4 km.
How long does Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy take?
About 5h 5m to the summit of Cairn Toul and 8h 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 10h 25m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy?
Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy starts from Linn of Dee car park. The grid reference is NO 061 896.
Is Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy today?
By 08:37 at the latest. Sunset on Cairn Toul today is 18:02, Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy takes about 8h 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 Linn of Dee via Corrour Bothy?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).