Back country - remote
Out and Back
Mountainous
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Open tussock/grasslands
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +10.7%
Average Downhill Gradient: -10.7%
VIP Feature: Send this route to your Garmin account so you can follow the course on your Garmin device.
Login as a VIP to see the trailhead information.
5:00
Slow
4:00
Moderate
3:00
Fast
We are eager to expand our Trail Running Directory in the UK and Ireland. For a limited time, if you submit any trail in the UK and Ireland and we publish it, we'll double the credit you receive! Submit a new trail now.
From the carpark, head along the Main Street though Ballater and across the bridge, at the junction head straight across the road and pick up a steep and rocky path ahead of you. Keep veering right and follow this path past a wee lochan, through some bog, over and under a few trees! And then take a left turn up through the woods until you reach a rather dodgy looking stile to cross onto the 4WD track you can see on your right!
Keep following this track, turning right to the summit of Pannanich, marked by a cairn and a trig. From here carry on up the hill, before turning left at the next path junction, following this track until you come to a sign for Mt Keen, where you turn left.
The track from here becomes boggy and harder to navigate so keep your eye on the GPX/map to make sure you’re not too far off track as there are multiple trods! Carry on until you come to a gravel road and a sign where you carry on straight, across the bridge and up the rocky path, keeping to the left hand path until you reach the summit of Mount Keen, marked with a cairn and a trig.
From here you retrace your steps to the car, however, if you want to avoid the precarious stile near the end you can carry on down the main track until you reach a high gate on your right, which will spit you back onto the same track!
This trail includes the peak Mount Keen.
In Ballater at main car park
Ample parking in the village centre. Bus available from Aberdeen - Stagecoach 201.
2 minutes
Yes
No
Hard.
There are a few sections here where it would be easy to lose your way, especially the section between the summit of Pannanich and the beginning of the climb to Mt Keen, keep an eye on your GPX and make sure you have a map and compass with you. Weather can change in an instant on these high peaks.
Patchy.
Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions)
Multiple burns along the way.
High risk of snow in the winter, and high winds all year round.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and The Pan and Mt Keen
As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.
Already have an account? Login now