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.
A Rockhoppers MC trip based at Braemar SYHA. Two of us decided it would be fun to do a round of Derry Cairngorm and Ben Macdui from Linn of Dee. The conditions were not too bad until the traverse above Coirie Sputan Dearg and we had to drop down onto the NW slope to escape the worst of the wind. Visibility was about 20m on the summit plateau which was also icy requiring crampons, but we found the summit cairn easily, and descended via Sron Riach, when the mist lifted with amazing views over the Lairig Ghru. We arrived back at the car just after dark, which was a remarkable time considering my companion forgot initially left his boots in the hostel so we did the journey to the Linn three times in the morning.
