📌 Glen Tanar, Aberdeenshire
★★★★
Mount Keen is Scotland’s easternmost Munro and a popular one, seeing less rain than most of the others. Fans of the craggier west might decry Mount Keen as a dull, rounded lump, but the views over Aberdeenshire, Angus and the Cairngorms are hard to beat; the view of Lochnagar‘s moody coire is particularly fine. Now, which route to take? The start amongst Glen Tanar’s stunning pine forests isn’t the closest trailhead to the summit, but it allows the most scenic approach. At the top you might be greeted by crowds of walkers who started from Glen Esk to the south. We think the northern approach is quieter and superior; if you’re not looking for a long walk, then take a hike… elsewhere.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Glen Tanar visitor centre, by minor road 3 mi west of Aboyne
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 480966
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.057147,-2.858642
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 30 km / 19 mi | ▲ 1130 m | ⌛ 9-10 hr
Features: 🌲 Glen Tanar NNR; 🏚️ Half Way Hut; △ Mount Keen (939 m, Munro); △ Gathering Cairn (790 m)
⬤ Tough | Excellent paths / tracks in Glen Tanar, gravelly for some of the steep ascent to Mount Keen. Intermittent, narrow path towards Braid Cairn becomes even fainter before reaching the track beyond Sauchen Stripe. Then good tracks for remainder.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Knockie Bridge via Water of Tanar east bank – Half Way Hut via Glen Tanar north bank – cross Water of Tanar on bridge before Etnach – cross over twice more before ascent to Mount Keen – bealach between Mount Keen and Braid Cairn – Gathering Cairn – track junction at 🧭 NO 431899 – track between Clachan Yell and Water of Gairney – cross Water of Allachy – rejoin outward route at Knockie Bridge – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Forest birds in Glen Tanar; annoying flies following us along Water of Gairney.
Weather: Bluebird scorcher: temperatures in the shade approaching 20°C and appreciably higher in the sunlight. Strong winds on the exposed tops kept it comfortable high up. Single remaining snow patch on Mount Keen.
July 2013
