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.
Ascent up the lochain path, Navigation was only required once on the plateau, towards Macdui and down and around to Ethichan and into the loch Ann basin, and up past hells Lum and across to Y Gully and towards 1141.
