Ben Macdui & Beinn Mheadhoin
1 NH989060 From Coire Cas car park, take steps to the right of the funicular railway entrance then cross the bridge over Allt a’ Choire Chais. After climbing a flight of steps bear right and follow the superb path south-west. It rises gently for 0.5km then splits; here keep right along heather-clad slopes. Soon stepping stones take you across the gorgeous Allt Coire an t-Sneachda, after which the path forks again. Go right and continue south, crossing Allt Coire an Lochain, before ascending steadily up the defined ridge of Miadan Creag an Lethchoin. As height is gained the scenery opens out across the dramatic and mighty Northern Corries. Coire an Lochain is truly impressive, the sheer cliffs dropping some 300m to the corrie floor. In a while the walk reaches a flatter, more featureless plateau, just east of the 1083m contour.
2 NH976024 This
section has a remoter feel as it passes beneath the western slopes of Cairn Lochan; the broad nature of the landscape means a close eye has to be kept on the path in poor weather. In due course the path begins to climb a little more steeply (alongside some marker cairns) before dropping to gain
the Central Cairngorm plateau. This is often described as a barren landscape but the likes of ptarmigan, mountain hare and
snow bunting may well be seen. Carry on between a lochan feeding the March Burn and Lochan Buidhe. From here, when the weather is clear, a relatively simple walk continues; but in poor visibility good
navigation is imperative. Having picked up another path descending from the Northern Corries, the route soon becomes vague among large boulders that circle the lower slopes of Ben Macdui. As the gradient steepens, however, the terrain improves and a clearer path rises to gain the 1309m summit cairn of Britain’s second highest mountain – yet again in poor weather it is easily missed, such is the scale of the summit plateau. Ben Macdui presents one of the finest views within the National Park. 3 NN989989 Walk east, first on pathless ground, to pick up a path just north of the 1232m contour. This descends north-east, in full view of Beinn Mheadhoin (pronounced Ben Vane), through a wonderfully wild landscape, dropping down past gorgeous Loch Etchachan. After nearly 3km it reaches a ford at the outflow of Little Loch Etchachan, a lovely spot to linger, with Loch Etchachan framed by Carn Etchachan’s steep cliffs. 4 NJ012003 Ford the Coire Etchachan Burn, after which the path splits. Turn right and begin the steep ascent onto Beinn Mheadhoin. An eroded path zigzags uphill and when the incline eases a fainter path leads to the western tor of the Barns of Beinn Mheadhoin. At 1163m it holds a stunning view of Loch Avon and Lochnagar. A gentle climb north-east crosses the huge summit plateau to the highest tor and top of Beinn Mheadhoin. Climbing onto the summit is not for everyone (its north side offers the easiest approach) but the sheer scale, texture and age of these granite monoliths are deeply impressive, the tallest being about 25ft.
5 NJ024016 Retrace steps back to Little Loch Etchachan. Turn right and walk northwest beneath the steep slopes of Carn Etchachan. Having crossed one short
section of wet ground the path drops steeply into Loch Avon’s glacial valley, a breathtaking natural amphitheatre where superb views of the Shelter Stone Crag, Carn Etchachan and Loch Avon abound. Nearing the basin floor, keep left at two forks then left again at a junction from where a path climbs to the Shelter Stone, a fine spot in the National Park.