Sugar Bowl car park to Corrour Bothy via the Lairig Ghru
1 NH984073
From the Sugar Bowl car park, cross the road and follow the trail down into the woodland, before crossing a footbridge where you will begin to ascend. Follow the trail which winds to the right, before doubling back on itself to the left. Keep to the reasonably well-marked trail, and continue on to the Chalamain Gap, which is flanked by steep rocky slopes on either side.
2 NH966054
Pick your way though the Gap with care. It is littered with loose boulders and scree, and in the winter any large voids can be covered with snow. Ascend through the Gap, and once clear of the boulderfield, you will find yourself on a newly built track that winds away to the south – follow this all the way into an obvious valley. Here, the track will noticeably divide – one fork splitting off to climb the slopes of Braeriach as you cross the burn. Continue south, keeping lower, into the Lairig Ghru.
3 NH960035
Keep to the fading track that leads south, and head into the Lairig as it becomes flanked by the high slopes of the 4000ers. Keep heading further south, until reaching the Pools of Dee, the start of the Allt na Lairig Ghru that flows through the rest of the pass. The slopes of Braeriach climb steeply to the west, and Ben Macdui rises up ahead of you to the east.
4 NH973006
The track becomes harder to distinguish, particularly in winter, but keep to the Allt na Lairig Ghru as it flows south, until another tributary joins it from the west and they flow together as the River Dee. Keep to the main river as you pass beneath Ben Macdui until the track picks up again.
5 NN980975
With Cairn Toul looming from the west, the rear of The Devil’s Point comes into view. The rough track starts to drift away from the River Dee, but then meets again with one of its bends. At this point a metal footbridge should stand out. Head for the footbridge and cross over to the west side of the River Dee, then walk the short distance to Corrour Bothy for your first night’s accommodation.