Start: Cairngorm Ski Centre car park NH 98991 05962
Distance: 17k
Duration: 9.5 hours
Direction: SE to Cairngorm summit; S then SW to Lochan Buidhe; SSE to summit of Ben Macdui and back then N to 1083 NNE direct route back to car park.
Description: First up Cairngorm then over to Ben Macdui and back direct route. Bad luck: we did not see a thing due to thick cloud from about 100m after the car park. Lost the path twice: before Lochan Buidhe, went too low but then followed the stream up to the Lochan; then on return after 1083 went too far E to the right of the ridge where path was unclear, then later picked up path after about 500m. Challenging navigation due to cloud; learning point - need accuracy with compass/ map.
Area :
The Cairngorms
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.
