The Cairngorms are ‘a little piece of the arctic in Scotland’ according to the SMC Munros Guide and the area contains many of the tallest peaks in the East Highlands. Ben Macdui (1309m), Cairn Gorm (1244m) and Braeriach (1296) are probably three of the better known and the whole area is full of steep corries and high plateaux. Access to the mountains is typically from Aviemore or Braemar.
Fighting to find the last of the Winter: we'd not wanted to come back to the Northern Cairngorms, but it was the last day of our trip and the snow was fading fast from the Creag Meagaidh area we'd hoped to explore.