Cairngorms
MASSIVE MOUNTAIN ROUTE
1
NH984073 From Sugarbowl car park, walk uphill slightly and cross the road to cross Utsi’s Bridge toward the reindeer centre. Turn left before the gate and follow the river upstream to a small crossing. Continue south-west to the Chalamain Gap. Keep to the centre and go straight through it via some awkward boulder scrambling. Exit the gap onto a good path that descends and curves gradually left into the Lairig Ghru.
2
NH959036 A small river crossing signals the entrance to the valley and you are funnelled south-east through the Lairig Ghru for several km, picking your way along a path that intermittently disappears and reappears on the other side of the occasional boulder field. It’s hard going at times. At the Pools of Dee, pass by on the right then curve left across yet another boulder field. This leads you to a riverhead. Descend away from the river into an opening of the valley, overlooked by imposing peaks. Pass the stream running downhill on the left, the Y-shaped fork in the river and continue to a second obvious stream, descending from Coire Clach nan Taillear.
3
NN980974 At the crossing, the bold will head off-path up beside the stream. Otherwise, continue along the path to the Clach nan Taillear stone and there is a better path that cuts north up the hillside at a gentler angle. Either way, you should end up on a faint track to the right of the stream that climbs up through the isolated coire and exits above a narrowing. Do not keep going to the top!
4
NN988978 On exiting the Coire, pick up the main track but head back downhill (south-west) to the bealach, passing the pools and climb again to Ceann Crionn. The ridge is fairly steep but the track is good and weaves through some outcrops, eventually bringing you to the summit of Carn a Mhaim.
5
NN994951 Retrace your steps to the top of the coire but keep on the track that climbs north-east. It leads you straight into another boulder field. There might be a path through it but I lost it. It is difficult to keep on. If you lose it, just keep on in the north-east direction, picking your way awkwardly from rock to rock until the ground levels out near the stream head. Swing a left and pick up the track to the summit of Ben Macdui, passing the ruins along the way.
6
NN988989 You’re on the home stretch. Only another 12km to go! The terrain gets easier. Pick up the path north-east for about 250m then drop down left (north-west) at the saddle and follow the descending path alongside a chain of small cairns, across a levelling out and keeping left as you approach Lochan Buidhe. There is one small rise, as you skirt around the left side of a hill.
7
NH976024 On the other side of the slope there are several options of descent. I used the ridge on the western side of Coire an Lochan. Walk along the righthand side of the top of the ridge and descend at the nose, leaning rightwards again, to pick up the path back to the Cairngorm Mountain Centre, where if you are in time, you’ll be able to get some hot food and a drink; it will be much needed. The path off the mountain is solid but takes the form of stepping stones in parts and crosses a few streams. From the centre car park, just follow the road down to Sugarbowl car park. About 200m after the split in the road, there is a turn off to the left, which leads you down a snaking unused road. This may save a few metres from a long day if you spot it! It is blocked to vehicles by boulders but is fine for walking.