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.
First of two long winter days on snow to gather in the final Demoted Tops I required to complete the Cairngorms. I decided on a more novel and less used southern route to reach the Ben Avon plateau. So, I started from the old military road opposite an estate cottage on the B976 2kms prior to Gairnshiel Lodge. I aimed the mountain bike down the hill and shortly the valley of the Gairn is reached and followed without detour to the track bifurcation below Loch Builg. Here, I took the SW track, recrossing the river as it flowed from the SW watershed. The private bothy of Culardoch is the final turn down to the river bank. The bridge indicated on the map has long since been washed away, so carefully across the river at a ford of sorts just south of the bridge stanchions. Here, a track can be followed up steep ground, past grouse butts to a bealach of sorts between Carn Tiekeiver and Carn Drochaid. Over the latter at 743m, a short descent then set to work on the steep ground above to the east of a deep ravine holding the Allt Phouple. The track gradually disappeared as deeper snow was reached above 900m and a turn SW to the first demoted top of the day - Stuc Gharbh Mhor, 1120m. There are two substantial tors here, the southern one being the higher. I climbed that. On then across the small plateau to locate the old GR for Stuc Gharbh Mhor at 1112m. There are several candidates and no cairn, so I boxed the high ground. NW then to Clach Choutsaich with an even more substantial stack, but not a top of any description, so straight past to two small groups of blocks at 1112m, named Mullach Lochan nan Gabhar. I topped out on both of those and they give a little height to show the twin summits of Stob Bac an Fhurain to the north. Across the main east/west route of Ben Avon, summit clearly visible to the west, then a short easy descent and re-ascent to the NW demoted top of Stob Bac an Fhurain. I also visited the eastern summit blocks at the same height, but the western summit appears the higher. The weather had really cleared to sun and high cloud as I took some food and planned the long 20kms return. Essentially I reversed my route of ascent, cutting out the edge of the plateau that contains Stuc Garbh Mhor, to relocate my snow prints of ascent, (I used crampons for the drop down the steeper slopes to below the snowline), then back down past numerous tors and blocks to the bealach below Carn Drochaid. Back over this small flat summit and thence on across open ground to reach the river crossing. Recrossed at the same place and picked my bike for the long ride out. Arrived back at the van with almost nine hours on the clock. Superb day out collecting some interesting demoted summits.
