Meall a’ Bhuachaille, Cairngorms
Mix up your terrain with forest and hilltops over the Cairngorm summits of Meall a’ Bhuachaille, Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie.
Although dwarfed by the neighbouring Cairngorm massif, Meall a’ Bhuachaille, Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie make for a top day walk.
Meall a’ Bhuachaille rises to 810m in height, and is one of Scotland’s 222 Corbetts. The route heads through gorgeous Glenmore Forest Park (keep an eye out for red squirrel and Scottish crossbill) onto Meall a’ Bhuachaille. Creagan Gorm and Craiggowrie are then crossed before a path drops into the wooded confines of Glenmore and a straightforward return. Throughout there are fantastic and far-reaching views across the Cairngorms National Park and beyond.
Like many Scottish mountain names, the Gaelic translations of Meall a’ Bhuachaille and Craiggowrie gives a clue to their recent history and the interaction between humans, animals and mountains. Craiggowrie translates as the Crag of the Goat, relating to wild goats that would have once wandered these hills, while Meall a’ Bhuachaille means Hill of the Herdsman. This refers to the shepherds of numerous small farms that were once scattered around the hill and who would drive their animals up onto the fertile slopes during the summer months to feed. Creagan Gorm is much more simplistic, translating as The Blue Crag.
NH976098 Begin 1 at the Glenmore Visitor Centre, which sits just east of Loch Morlich. Here there is a shop, café and excellent interpretation centre. From the car park cross a bridge at its left corner and climb a road to another car park. Beyond a barrier turn right, cross another bridge then bear left onto a track signposted for Meall a Bhuachaille. A steep ascent, through Glenmore
Forest Park
– dominated by Scots pine and birch – heads north-east above Allt Coire Chondiaich. The gradient eases upon reaching a junction and here turn left onto a good path and continue the gradual ascent. When the path splits keep right, from where a steadier rise soon leads above the treeline onto open hillside beneath Coire Chondiaich – here the marvellous outlook stretches south towards the central Cairngorms.
NH983109 In due 2 course the path veers right. Like many within the National Park, it has been expertly constructed, and it is a relatively simple pull over heathery ground (vibrant purple during
August and September) to gain a col at the 650m contour line, between Creagan Gorm and Meall a’ Bhuachaille. Turn right to join a path that winds quite steeply east to reach the broad summit of
Meall a’ Bhuachaille.
At 810m it is the highest point of the route and a good spot for a break beside its large stone shelter. On a clear day the vast bulk of Ben Wyvis and the softer margins of the Moray coastline are visible although it is the immediate views that really strike a chord
– Bynack More, Cairn Gorm, the Northern Corries and Braeriach are particularly eye-catching.
NH991116 Retrace steps back to the col where the path splits. Leave the outwardbound route behind by keeping right and continue west across a broad upland table (keep an eye out for the roaming Glenmore reindeer herd) before a steady rise north-west gains Creagan Gorm, its 732m domed top marked with a cairn. Again the panorama is extensive, taking in the lower reaches of the National Park, including Loch Morlich and the vast wooded landscape of Rothiemurchus.
NH978120 The high-level ridge then undulates across this quiet landscape in the company of dotterel, golden plover, meadow pipit and skylark, rising over a couple of tops and passing Creag a’ Chaillich, Crag of the Old Woman or Witch.
A last push north reaches Craiggowrie, the final summit of the day and a wonderful vantage point to view the Monadhliath and much of Badenoch and Speyside.
NH963134 After 5 a brief descent, the path swings left and drops gradually, returning to Glenmore Forest Park at a red marker post. Once within the woodland follow the path to a fork, keep left and continue to a track. Again turn left (following orange waymarks) and walk through the forest, with the higher Cairngorms peaking above the treeline, for just under 1.5km to a fork. Take the left track and walk 3 past Badaguish Outdoor Centre.
NH957115 6 Follow the road as it sweeps right to another fork and go left. Stick to the track as it proceeds east then south-east, with pleasing views across Loch Morlich, and where chaffinch, great tit, red squirrel and even sparrowhawk may be spotted. After 2.5km, just before the main Aviemore/Coire Cas road, turn left onto a yellow waymarked track and follow this around Glenmore Youth Hostel to Glenmore Visitor Centre.