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.
An exploration of mesolithic sites in the upper Dee. This included a visit to a site at Coachanon Ruadha above the Geldie Burn where a mesolithic hunting camp had previously been identified during an archaeological dig. At the Chest of Dee a small lithic horde of mesolithic worked flint and rhyolite was discovered in fresh erosion of the bank (and has been deposited with Treasure Trove at the National Museum of Scotland). Two nights were spent in the Red House bothy before returning to Braemar and the bus.
