The Devil's Point - Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Posted by: 
creg-ny-baa
N 57° 02.137 W 003° 41.304
30V E 458221 N 6321561
Summit of the iconic Cairngorms peak of The Devil's Point in a remote area of the highest range of mountains in the UK.
Waymark Code: WM1ATZC
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/08/2024
Views: 1
The Devil's Point is a 3303 feet, 1004 metre craggy peak above Corrour in the heart of the Cairngorms of Scotland. Its Gaelic name, Bod an Deamhain, the Penis of the Devil, was changed to spare the blushes of Queen Victoria, who on visiting the area for the first time enquired of its name to her ghillie, John Brown, who used the English name Devil's Point instead.
The mountain comes into view from the route to the south-east, guarding the western side of the entrance to the Lairig Ghru above the fledgling River Dee and the bothy at Corrour. On the approach to the bothy, from the east, the mountain then takes on the form of a pyramidal peak that looks unpregnable, but Coire Odhar behind the bothy offers the route up to the col between it and Cairn Toul where it is a simple trek south-eastwards to the top.
The mountain is actually a subsiduary of Cairn Toul to the north which is the 4th highest mountain in the UK. The col between at the top of Coire Odhar is just low enough to give The Devil's Point Munro status. The summit, perched precariously above Corrour, is a stone-built wind shelter and needless to say offers striking views away from the higher mountains to the north.
STEEPNESS: Despite its intimidating look, the mountain can be breached by the manageable Coire Odhar path which takes a moderately steep route north of the mountain from Corrour Bothy. The ascent continues southwards from the col less steeply.
TERRAIN: Reasonably constructed paths, albeit more rocky towards the top.
ACCESSIBLITY: A long way from civilisation, many use the bothy or camp in the surrounding area. It is an eight mile hike from the Linn of Dee to the south-east, and similar from the north over the Lairig Ghru. It can also be climbed in conjunction with the three mountains to the north, Braeriach, The Angel's Peak, and Cairn Toul.
NAVIGATION: The Coire Odhar path makes route finding simple on the ascent up to the col. From here the path is more faint amongst the rocks and boulders, but taking the highest line south-eastwards heads to the summit.
DANGER: Sticking to the path keeps things straightforward on ascent. Do not stray eastwards or southwards from the summit for obvious reasons.