Beinn A’ Bhuird
DAY 1
1
NO116909 From the small parking area, continue along the road to a track, left, which doubles back and traverses uphill. When it meets another track, stay right to head slightly downhill towards the river and a narrow footbridge from which the Devil’s Punchbowl, a round hole worn in the rock beside the river, rife with legends, can be spotted. Don’t cross the bridge but return to the main track and follow it
along the riverbank into Glen Quoich, which, in its lower parts particularly, features some wonderful stately old Scots pines.
2
NO111914 It’s a long walk up the glen from here, passing a footbridge on the right after 1.3km. Continue along the track for 4km coming closer and further away from the river, passing a forestry plantation on the left, crossing a small stream with another path turning off left. Continue ahead to meet the Allt an Dubh-Ghleann just above its confluence with Quoich Water.
3
NO079946 There’s no way around a freezing cold wade here, so good judgement is required, then boots off and poles out. It’s back to easy-going on the far side, following the track ahead and ignoring the one which branches off right. The climb up Beinn a’ Bhuird begins gradually, through pine woods. The old hill track is currently being restored by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and has been replaced with a good pitched path which slopes north-east up the flanks of Carn Allt na Beinne then heads north-west to join the ridge at An Diollaid.
4
NO075970 Pass a windbreak shelter and continue up the flank of the hill along the old hill track scar, which is very gradually becoming re-colonised with heather. Keep northnorth-east along the spur with fantastic views of the Cairngorms emerging on the right to join the summit plateau. Here, a once apparently bulky and rather shapeless hill reveals a side of hidden drama: some of the most impressive corries in the Cairngorms.
5
NO089994 If the wind allows, spend some time here peering down into these giant granite scoops before handrailing the edge on a wiggling line north. The true summit, the North Top, is marked by a cairn. From here, head north-east for about 500m to drop down beside a stream and find a sheltered camp spot beside a stream. The amount of shelter will depend on wind direction, so some scouting around on the hilltop may be required. There are several potentials.