It is a very accessible hill and when climbed from the Glenshee Ski Centre along with the adjacent mountains of The Cairnwell and Càrn Aosda makes for a very easy round of three Munros for the peak bagger.

It is quite modest in appearance with the smooth slopes of the summit rising unpretentiously above the surrounding high moorland and the hills long ridges.

The mountain's name translates as “Hill of the Goose”, the meaning of which is hard to fathom, although Loch Vrotachan which lies 2 km to the NE may have had geese nesting on it at some time.

The highest point of this ridge is Càrn nan Sac (920 metres), a subsidiary top of Carn a' Gheoidh formerly listed in Munros Tables before being deleted in 1981.

Carn a' Gheoidh is the highest ground over an area of several square kilometres and gives a good uninterrupted view of the Cairngorms and the Beinn a' Ghlò massif.