Distance: 26 km
Ascent: 1000 m
Time: 7hrs 37mins
Munros: Tom Buidhe (957m), Tolmount (958m)
Weather: Early light rain giving way to sunshine, very strong winds on top
Route: Click to view

With twenty-one Stockets aboard the bus (after pick-ups at the Bridge of Dee and at Stonehaven) we made our way down the A90 to Glen Clova. Initial sunshine in Aberdeenshire soon gave way to less pleasant conditions into Angus with dark clouds sitting ominously over the hills and glens. After a break at Stracathro services we made our way through Kirriemuir and then out onto the narrow road to Clova.

With a coach it was slow going, particularly as half the glen seemed to be on its way out for the day. We disturbed several broods of partridges and were held up briefly by a herd of cattle, including one old but extremely large bull, that were being moved by a determined looking farmer’s wife.

It was around ten when we pulled up at the small quarry just before the car park in Glen Doll. There was low cloud over the nearby hills and a light drizzle was falling. Without much hesitation we were on our way, heading down the final stretch of road, past the car park, and then out on the first stretch of Jock’s Road.

Shortly after this we met a helpful Forestry Sign that said, “Jock’s Road Closed”. Luckily it turned out not to apply to the whole road, just a short stretch through the plantation. Thankfully we were able to bypass this by following a well signed diversion on the south bank of the White Water.

At this point a reasonably heavy rain was falling, but the trees kept us sheltered and it was a relaxing way to start the walk. The White Water chattered below us as we wound our way steadily up the glen. As we progressed scraps of blue sky began to appear above us and as we crossed the river to rejoin the main path we were in sunshine with the summits clearing.

After a brief break we tackled the main climb of the day: following Jock’s Road out of the head of Glen Doll. Some significant work has been done in the past on this track and it is of excellent quality, climbing to the right of the more precipitous cliffs below Craig Maud. It gave great views back down the glen and on to the heather clad slopes. As we climbed the clouds rolled back in and we were back under grey skies.

At the summit of the path we paused again, exploring Davey’s Howff and the memorial plaque to the five experienced hillwalkers who had died in tragic and mysterious circumstances on a crossing of Jock’s Road just after New Year in 1959.

Though there were still dark clouds about, the conditions seemed to be getting better. However, as we came out of the shelter of the glen we were quickly exposed to the high winds that had been confidently predicted by various weather services.

Once on the tops the excellent path dwindles somewhat until it became more of a muddy track, winding its way with less certainty along the course of the allt that flows back down towards Glen Doll. We followed this course for some time as the Munros of Tom Buidhe and Tolmount came in to view at the head of the stream. It became clear however that we had missed a turning and that Jock’s Road now lay some way above us, climbing the long ridge to Crow Craigies.

We climbed up the steep slopes to regain the track and then followed this until we got to the crags of Crow Craigies and the highest point of Jock’s Road. It was here, with views north and east to the Deeside Hills, as well as the much closer White Mounth Munros, including Broad Cairn and Lochnagar, that we paused for lunch.

After lunch we dropped back to the allt, crossed it by a convenient set of stones and then struck a course south and west up the slightly steeper eastern side of Tom Buidhe. As we climbed we could look back east to the Glen Doll hills which were still sitting under a heavy covering of cloud.

As we came out on to the summit of Tom Buidhe we were hit by the full force of the wind. Still, its presence had almost completely blown away the clouds and there were magnificent views in all directions. In the west was the dark mass of Glas Maol and the Glen Shee hills. Closer at hand was the Tolmount and the hills above Glen Callater.

In the north could be seen the high Cairngorms, from the cliffs of Braeriach to the granite tors on Beinn Mheadhoin. Looking south we could see the Perthshire hills retreating into a hazy distance. It was wonderful, despite the wind.

From Tom Buidhe we took the obvious track around the lip of the gentle corrie and followed it along to the summit of the neighbouring Munro, Tolmount. Now the wind was on our backs and propelled us easily up the last rocky climb to the cairn. We paused again at the top to admire the views. A few other people joined us and it was possible to see plenty of other figures out in the Munro-filled part of the world. Once at the summit it is important to continue slightly north to get the view of Loch Callater.

The Tolmount was the name of Jock’s Road in the days when it was a drover’s road across the hills. From the summit of the mountain we dropped back down to pick up the road itself as it descended steeply into Glen Callater.

The track is very vague at this point and it took a good bit of descending down steep, grassy slopes before we met anything at all well defined. There were fine views all around as we made our way down.

Eventually, as the gradient eased, we joined a well constructed track that followed the course of the Allt an Loch, a chattering burn that quickly grew in size as it wound its way through Glen Callater. The head if the glen is spectacular with the Tolmount dominating the centre alongside the hills further west which surround Loch Kander. These all look spectacular as they caught the afternoon light.

The road took a rollercoaster route of ups and downs as the river turned across the undulating valley floor. Sometimes the marshier sections were crossed by stretches of stepping stones. Eventually though the sides of the glen receded and the land flattened out into pools and reedy beds with the river now more languorous as it drifted into Loch Callater.

The track followed the eastern shore of the loch and continued to be excellent. There was now dramatic clouds pouring in from the south west. Occasional gaps would let sunshine in, lighting up the foreground vividly whilst the hills in the background remained dark and sombre.

Eventually, as the sun once again came out, we came to the lodge at the far end of the loch. A bothy next door provided ample bench seating for a last snack stop and a contemplation of the views back down the loch.

From here it was a simple case of following the land rover track down through the wild Glen Callater. Although the clouds returned and threatened rain we remained dry until we reached the pick up point at Auchallater beneath the dark heather-clad slopes of Morrone.

The coach took us back to Aberdeen by way of a couple of pints in the Fife Arms in Braemar. At first it was busy but soon the 6pm rush subsided and we all got served and found a seat. It was a tired group that headed back to the city but it had been a great day, made better by the fact that we had avoided most of the rain and got some wonderful views from these wild and isolated hills.

Distance: 28.8 km
Ascent: 1553 m
Time: 7hrs 37mins
Munros: Bynack More (1090m), Cairn Gorm (1245m)
Weather: Hot sunshine, light breeze
Route: Click to view

After what seemed like interminable weekends of rain, wind and general unpleasantness, yesterday’s weather was warm and sunny and so in the evening I quickly made plans to head into the mountains today. The weather forecast was particularly promising for the eastern side of the country so I checked out what I had still to climb amongst the Munros of the Cairngorms (quite a few in fact) and then checked out a couple of possible routes. With long summer days still around I decided that a route taking in both the out-of-the-way Bynack More, and the eponymous Cairn Gorm would work out well and saw that there was a track that cut down from the ski centre towards the Ryvoan pass allowing me to complete a satisying loop of the two. Soon after my bag was packed and I was ready for an early departure.

Sunday morning lived up to its bright promise, with unbroken blue skies above me as I drove out of Aberdeen. There was some cloud around as I passed over to Strathdon and from the viewing point past Corgarff I could see that the higher Cairngorms were holding on to a cap of clouds. No matter though as the forecast had promised improved conditions into the afternoon.

I drove along the quiet backroad through Nethy Bridge, along to Coylumbridge and then hit the tourist traffic on the main road up to the Cairn Gorm ski centre. Small sailing boats were already plying the still blue waters of Loch Morlich as I passed by it before the road climbed up to the lower ski centre car park. There were a few people up here admiring the view back down over Glen More, but no-one else was booting up for a walk.

Undeterred I made my preparations, only to discover that both sets of batteries for my GPS were virtually dead. It wasn’t that I was worried about navigation. I had a map and compass. I was worried about the loss of my track and the associated statistics (how sad!). Luckily, my phone came to the rescue and I soon had My Tracks up and running and recording a GPS track for me (no data loss, hurrah!).

From the ski centre car park I dropped down to the Allt Na Ciste, crossing it and turning to follow the track on its east bank. SOon after this a track forked off to the right and I followed this as it wound its way across gently rolling, heather clad land across to Lochan na Beinne which was beautifully still in the morning air. At just after 10am it was already a very hot day.

From the Lochan the track followed a boggy course below the lower slopes of Stac na h-lolaire. At some point I deviated away from the line of the track marked on the OS Map, though I was still on a clear route. This kept me above the wooded gully which I imagine would have been very boggy. Unfortunately the track I was on finally bent around to the west but petered out in a further gully where a reedy burn soaked both my feet. I continued along it as it went into the deeper section of woods and although I must have crossed it at some point, missed the track. Instead I broke through waist-high ferns to reach another gully which had been largely cleared of trees. Although it was steep I was able to pick my way carefully down it. In the shelter of the gully though it was hot, damp and very fly-infested.

I was glad, some time later, to reach the floor of Glen More where I immediately hit the excellent path that comes up from Glenmore Lodge. The going was much easier now and I soon arrived at the branch down to An Lochan Uaine (the green lochan) which I headed down to. No pictures can do justice to the incredible beauty of this piece of water.

In the shelter of both hills and thinning pine trees it more than lives up to its name, its glass-like surface mirroring the scenery. I sat by the water munching on a cereal bar and enjoying the tranquility of this idyllic spot. A few other walkers came down to explore its banks and so I eventually moved on, returning back to the track which now heads towards the Ryvoan Bothy.

Shortly before the bothy a Scottish RIghts of Way Society sign points a fork in the road. I took the right fork to Braemar as this path eventually leads to the Lairig an Laoigh, one of the passes through the high Cairngorms. The track is of excellent quality and in short order I was at the wide opening of Strath Nethy, crossing the River Nethy by a good quality footbridge.

On the far side the track branched off to the left to climb the long, gentle shoulder of An Lurg, a bump in the high, laregely featureless plataue whose high point is the summit of Bynack More.

At around 780m the main Lairig track is left as it turns to the east to contour around Bynack More and the Munro baggers track continues almost due south, passing over the 818m spot height from which you get your first true look at Bynack More sitting to the left of its smaller neighbour, Bynack Beg.

The path heads up the north ridge, very steeply at first but then flattening off slightly as it turns to the west side of the ridge to avoid the rocky crest. Rather than follow the track I stuck to the crest as much as posible, enjoying scrambling up the grippy granite.

I overtook a couple of folk toiling up the path and soon after that emerged amongst the summit boulders, the cairn some way to my south. Beyond it the sharp profile of Coire Sputan Dearg on Ben Macdui and the tors on Beinn Mheadhoin had come into view.

I passed by way of the large summit cairn, taking in the fantastic panorama that had opened up all around me. To the west Cairn Gorm had blown off its early cloud and now stoody dominating the immedaite scene. To the south the pass of the Lairig an Laigh could be seen, the various pools and lochans in it catching the high sun. To the south and east the long sloping sides of Beinn a’ Bhiuird and Ben Avon with its Tors showed off their bulk.

I sat up here for almost half an hour, munching on a sandwich or two and taking in the views under sunny skies. There was only the lightest of breezes and so a few insects had gathered up near the cairn which were somewhat irksome. I had a chat with chap who had been out walking and camping in the hills for almost a week. He had come through rain and high winds but had enjoyed the weekend sunshine and was now prepared for one last night, camped up on Bynack More, before heading back to civilisation.

After my lunch I dropped south from the summit to continue my loop. First of all my route took me down by the Barns of Bynack, a set of granite tors which sit just south of the summit.

After the Barns I dropped down and made my way slightly west to climb the unremarkable A’ Choinneach. This 1017m high bump is a Munro top but the legs hardly feel it and I only stopped briefly at the cairn to admire the view back to Bynack More before continuing on.

I was drawn by knowledge that the next view was one I had long sought: that of Loch Avon, the body of water truly at the heart of the Cairngorms. It’s dark green surface shimmers below the steep cliffs that make up Ben Macdui, Derry Cairngorm, Cairn Gorm and Beinn Mheadhoin, all Munros. I detoured out to a slight promontory whcih gave a fantastic view down the loch. Here I paused for another twenty or so minutes just enjoying the splendour of this wild and remote spot. I was already mentally noting a number of potential campsites that I’d like to use on a trip through these mountains.

After my break I rejoined the main track which winds down off A’ Choinneach, past several small pools with Cairn Gorm behind them, and down to the Saddle which marks the head of Strath Nethy. In poor weather this would provide a good escape route at this point but with the sun beating down I was ready to climb up to my second Munro of the day, Cairn Gorm.

A good track climbs up the right of the high cliffs which guard the summit of Cairn Gorm. It takes you up alongside Strath Nethy giving good views back to Bynack More and the eastern hills.

It isn’t the most direct of paths but does take you up a moderate slope that soon gains height. Eventually the path turned westward, following the course of a burn that came down from some of the last lingering snow patches of the year. Here I found a determined skier, repeatedly sliding down the short runs of hardened snow. They seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, the path was now heading for the Ptarmigan so I turned off it and struck up the final slopes, emerging on the Cairn Gorm plateau just a few hundred metres away from the summit and the weather station.

I made my way over to the weather station and then dropped slightly down the bouldery slope to get the view south to hidden Loch Etchachan and Ben Macdui. In the afternoon light it was a wonderful view.

After a pause here I returned to the summit to tag the cairn and check out the view west across Loch Morlich and beyond to where the Moray Firth would lie hidden in haze. It was then an easy walk on the well made track north along the plateau, passing the Maquis Well and soon encountering the ski equipment which make this mountain synonymous with Scottish winter sports.

I left the built up area and kept away from the Ptarmigan (where the funicular railway terminates), taking an offtrack route across the rolling plateau until I dropped down into Coire na Ciste. This steep gulley would lead me directly to the car park.

At first it was steep, unsteady ground but after some uncertainty I picked up a track lower down that soon became clear and well constructed. It skirted round and final outlier of Cairn Gorm and then descended to the car park and my car.

After a quick change out of my boots and a phone call home I was heading back, stopping briefly by Loch Morlich to get the view of the mountains that had been cloud covered earlier in the day. I stopped once more above Abernethy to get a final photo and then made the long drive back across the mountains to Aberdeen.