📌 Road pass between Fettercairn & Strachan, Aberdeenshire
★★★
The narrow road snaking over the southern Cairngorms between Fettercairn and Strachan was once an important military route into the Highlands from the plains to the south. Today it’s a vital link for residents of Deeside, and a relatively easy way to experience the wide open landscapes of the hill range for the rest of us. There are two laybys close to the top of the pass: the northern one giving access to a 4,000 year-old cairn marking the true summit, and the southern one providing the best views south across the low-lying Howe of the Mearns. Extra care may be required if making a winter trip: exposure to easterly winds and a top height of over 450 metres above sea level brings the associated ice and snow hazards.
Northbound from Cairn o’ Mount summit 
Foot of the pass on the south side 
Redstone Hill (northbound) 
Hairpin at the southern layby 
Howe of the Mearns from the southern layby 
Cairn at the summit layby, Strathfinella Hill beyond 
Winter view of Clachnaben 
View north north from the summit 
Descent into Glen Dye (northbound)
🌍 Location
📌 South end is at Fettercairn
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 651736
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.851625,-2.574901
△ Summit is at:
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 650807
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.916643,-2.577269
📌 North end is at Strachan
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 675923
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.020547,-2.536102
🚌 Extremely infrequent bus to Fettercairn at south end of pass, but no public transport across the pass itself
🚗 Surfaced B-road, suitable for most vehicles, mostly wide single-track, with several car parks & laybys
📝 Key info
▶ 23 km / 14 mi | ▲ 380 m
⌚ Almost always open – snow closes the pass a few times each winter, mainly overnight
🎫 Free
