Photo: Shutterstock. 1. Beginning in the car park, follow the path that starts at two boulders with a purple way marker. The rocks, bone dry, slip beneath my soles before I can respond. We passed some path laying tools but nobody was working that day. To many the Cairngorms represent an area of unique and unsurpassed wilderness. Angel Peak (Sgurr an Lochain Uaine) is now included and is shown as peak 18. Overnight camping in the Cairngorms - a beginners guide, Beautiful Cairngorms views:Ben Macdui & Cairn Gorm revisited, Bynack More and Cairn Gorm (back to my early playgrounds). Sign up to get notified of the latest deals, news and all the latest information direct to your inbox. After an easy first 5km to Derry Lodge (which can be cycled), its a stiff climb to Derry Cairngorms conical summit (1155 metres, 3789 feet) before a steady ascent to Ben Macdui and a long walk out via the Sron Riach ridge. With a summit elevation of 1,245 m (4,085 ft) above sea level, Cairn Gorm is classed as a Munro and is the sixth-highest mountain in the British Isles. It feels like cold; it also feels like shock. We dozed off at 9pm and caught up on the lost sleep from the night before. The best approach is from the Linn of Dee, a 30km (19 mile) route across the exposed plateau. An easy Munro by anyones standards, The Cairnwell, at Glenshee near Braemar, requires just 918ft of ascent from start to summit. This Munro, known for its crags and long drops, is no easy option either, but Sgor Gaoith is one of the more accessible Munros in the Cairngorms. Last modified October 18, 2017, Loch Mullardoch Circuit (12 Munros in a day), Glenfinnan to Inverie to compleat the round, Lucky Loch Lochy escapes the thunderstorms, Lurg Mhor and Bidein aChoire Sheasgaich from Craig, Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgor Ruadh from Torridon, Bidean Nam Bian and friends from Glen Etive, A round of the Tarf Munros from Blair Atholl, Character Building on Beinn Dearg (Ullapool), My Brothers, My Sisters, and My Granddad Monty, Pain and discomfort on the Northern Mullardochs, Tough walk in the Fannichs with two superstars, The Clachet Traverse Four Munros (Black Mount), Glen Tilt Three (Bein a Ghlo) plus the Corbett, Meall aChoire Leith and Meall Corranaich, Loch Ericht to Glen Tromie and Glen Garry, Fort William to Loch Treig and Loch Leven, Copyright Colin Lamont 2016. After passing two sets of old shielings, continue on the path as it leads towards a tributary burn. I cannot bear the taste of more water. I know they are not real; my mind readily accepts that truth. A path from The Saddle above Loch Aan leads me onto the wet ramparts of Cairn Gorm, home to numerous tiny frogs, before petering out in long grass. Down I go, with hallucinations littering the path to Auchlean. The epic challenge hereabouts is the ascent of the Cairngorm 4000ers, best accomplished from Speyside. Paddy Buckley Round, Ring of Fire - Galloway After pausing for a very tired selfie at the summit, we descended back to our packs, beside the loch. You sound tired, she says. To get to the Glas Maol Munros Circular Walk from Dundee, take Meadowside to Victoria Rd and continue 0.3 km. These mountains are high and wild; civilisation roads, cafes, idle chatter, comfort is remote. return false; Wainwright 7 Summits, Wicklow Round Harvey Howgill Tops, Knoydart 7 This route takes you up the very steep slope towards the lochan that gives it its name, Lochan Uaine. Getting Lost: Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Future Forests conservation project boosts Nevis native woodland, Ive become increasingly concerned for the planet: Frozen Planet Cameraman Doug Allan on Climate Change and his Career, Landmark ruling will force the removal of Cairngorms vehicle track, The best moments in life should never be rushed: another update from Chris Townsends 450 mile Colorado walk. We reached the summit of Beinn Bhreac with views shrouded in the clag once more. Scottish 4000s Those who "compleat" a round are called Munroists. The ground drops away sharply and, like a giant conveyer belt, is moving. A real treat! It's an 'out-and-back' trail which avoids the altogether wilder Cairngorm plateau, which makes this peak perfect for munro novices. Meall a Buachaille (804 metres / 2637 feet) is a modest hill by Cairngorms standards, but its a great place to start if youre new to the region, with its manageable feel and its all-encompassing views of the Northern Corries to the south. Ensure your navigation skills are up to scratch, or get a guide. The Cairngorms in one go: an alternative approach - Mark Rigby's article that appeared in The Fellrunner (December 1988). This was the turning point in the challenge where I felt autumn was starting to loom, the days felt slightly shorter. This is the pressure of having to navigate on-site, not only doing it, but having to do it quickly and having to do it continuously. cannot be held responsible for any loss or injury caused by the accuracy I stop after 10 minutes, pulling into a lay-by in the forest. Nonetheless, to use hill running parlance, my legs have gone. Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui under Blue Skies, Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Bhreac from Cairngorm Ski Centre, First Time Exploring the Cairngorms - 4000s (plus 2), Cairn Gorm - Easy view & Family on half way. The hard is made harder. At 4295ft, the summit offers wonderful vistas of the national park. . Ive heard of this round in The Urals, Congratulations! Getting up on the Cairngorm plateau is a goal for many but for anyone doing this Munro, its just the start! says Wilderness Scotlands Chantal. Canary Islands 3 Peaks Cairngorm Munros Free shipping for many products! The rightmost column shows how many summits were included in their report, which may help you to find the most relevant reports. At one point, I sense a flashing, dark movement over a shoulder. I was convinced that starting and finishing at Auchlean would shorten the round. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. When a drystone wall is reached up ahead, follow it to climb to the summit of Cairn of Claise. In addition, or if there isn't a recorder, you are invited to share your experience on the gofar facebook page to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go! If it's sublime multi-day wilderness . Super-fit (and sadomasochistic) hikers walk it in a day, but a preferable approach is to stop overnight at Corrour Bothy. Data from openweathermap.org[Note all times are GMT - add an hour for BST.]. The pyramidal peakof Bynack More, accessed from Allt Mor car park, to the east of Aviemore in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, offers a wonderful walk amid superb scenery. The Northern Corries are one of the most visible spectacles in the Cairngorms, a great wall of glacier-carved, amphitheatre-like crags looking out over Strathspey, and the roads snaking up towards the skiing infrastructure make this one of the most popular jumping-off points for walkers looking to get into the big mountains. Dull outlines emerge. Cumbrian Traverse Wrap up warm! Wainwright 7 Summits, Wicklow Round With the Autumn light, the magnificent changing colours and the sound of the red deer stags roaring, October can be a wonderful time for walking, says James Orpwood, of James Orpwood Mountaineering. Youll experience the far-flung Loch Avon basin, the much-photographed Shelter Stone boulder and the idyllic Loch Etchachan, while Beinn Mheadhoins summit is crowned by dramatic granite tors. After taking the most direct path to the summit you can return via Geal Charn for a satisfying circuit (around 6 hours). I get back in the car and close the door. We took a great deal of photographs, enjoying the sunset summit views. I glance at the glowering silhouette of Mullach Clach a Bhlair, number one of 18, and imagine being up there, among the dark tendrils of cloud. We use cookies on our website, by using the site your are consenting to them. The ease of access, though, hides the solace and remoteness you experience once you reach the top and look north across the Monadhliath. This is the 3rd highest Munro in the Park, the fourth highest in the whole of Scotland and its the second highest point in the western massif of the Cairngorms. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Six County Tops - Peak According to the bothy register, some wood was left by a chap called Oscar who had carried it in but then realised hed forgotten his food supplies, so left the wood for the next person to enjoy and returned to his car. Required fields are marked *. Photo: Shutterstock. Corrour is one of the most popular bothies for hikers of the Cairngorms Munros, and it was no surprise to see two tents erected outside at 12pm. www.Mountaindays.net - A schedule and details of each of the 18 Cairngorm Munros. South Wales Traverse, Tan Hill to Kirkstone Pass Inn I start at 1.30am. Ben Macdui (the UKs second highest mountain) can be connected to Cairn Gorm, Carn aMhaim, The Devils Point, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine, Braeriach, Monadh Mor, Beinn Bhrotain, Beinn Bhreac, Beinn aChaorainn, Derry Cairngorm, Beinn Mheadhoin and Bynack More. I move on, shuffling, cursing. As Wilderness Scotlands Alasdair explains, it can be approached from several routes but the most exciting is the mountaineers route which is accessed by heading up the Lairig Ghru, from the Northern Side (you could access it from Deeside, but this would make a long day even longer) past the pools of Dee. As I descend Ben Macdui, I doubt myself: the bearing is not right; I see a snow patch but in the now-returned mist assume it is a lochan; I contemplate going back to the summit and starting the descent again. It now offers a diverse range of long and "short", old and recent, formal and informal routes from around the UK to encourage runners of all ages and abilities to have a go, subject to proven mountain experience in all conditions. I chose to run Rigby Round and I am trying to be truthful. I slept on the bench and James slept on the floor. There is no path; I trust the compass. And it is glorious. On tiptoes and fingertips, I go straight up. Leaving the Norwegian Stone at Loch Morlich on the stroke of midnight we first headed for Braeraich, reaching the . I look for my car, imagining what I would do if it was not there. It has a remote, secluded feel, as if the mountain is hiding secretly behind loftier surrounding peaks, and these higher summits prevent an easy approach. Finishers are invited to add their name to the completions log - enquiries and reports to jonny_muir@hotmail.com. It was Sir Hugh Munro who first came up with the concept of a list of these mountains in the late 19th century. This site contains routes up all of the 58 Munros in the Cairngorms. Charlie Ramsay Round We left the bothy and joined a path leading up to the col between The Devils Point and Stob Coire an t-Saighdeir, replenishing our water supplies in a stream along the way. It felt like a long out and back, especially in the clag, but we were packless and packless walking feels really freeing and light. Writing about running in the high places of Scotland. We thought it would take four full days to complete the full route and in actual fact we were looking like doing it in less than three and a half days. The object of this website is to provide a single, ready source of information on the ultra-distance mountain challenges which have been developed over the past four or more decades. The Official Visitor Guide to the Cairngorms National Park. Always ensure you carry sufficient clothing, food and equipment to cope with dramatic changes in the weather conditions! Please take full mountain safety precautions at all times. This includes 4 out of 5 of the highest hills in the UK as well as 55 'Munros'. I picture it lying back there, a graveyard of asphalt on the A9. Ascent: 1900m. Will I be okay? All Rights Reserved. FINLAY WILD - RIGBY ROUND (CAIRNGORM MUNROS) RECORD Finlay attempted the Rigby Round while he was recovering from breaking his arm and it helped him to check that his fitness and conditioning were on track as he prepared for his BG. Taste of more water unsurpassed wilderness national park the Linn of Dee, a graveyard asphalt. Area of unique and unsurpassed wilderness Sir Hugh Munro who first came up with the concept a! Cairngorm Munros Free shipping for many but for anyone doing this Munro, its just the!... Close the door lost sleep from the Linn of Dee, a 30km ( 19 mile ) route the! 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