Cairngorms
WIDE OPEN VIEWS
1
NH853012 The route begins from the small car park that sits in a clearing on the east side of the Feshiebridge/ Achlean minor road, 0.4km north of Glen Feshie Hostel. Take the obvious grassy track that strikes east through woodland into Invereshie and Inshriach National Nature Reserve. After 0.65km the woodland thins, at which point bear left onto a path. This continues east, rising steadily through gorgeous Caledonian Pine woodland high above Allt Ruadh. After the path levels off keep left at a fork and ascend north-east onto open hillside. The route can be a little boggy, but a pass, separating Creag Mhigeachaidh and Geal Charn, is eventually gained, where fine views across the reserve and Speyside open out.
2
NH875019 At this point leave the path for the rougher, pathless lower slopes of Geal Charn. It is a steep climb, across spongy, heathery ground interspersed with short bouldery sections, and progress is slow but the gradient relents when the summit plateau is achieved beside a cairn. A short, gradual climb reaches Geal Charn’s 920m top and a fantastic view along Glen Feshie.
3
NH884014
A lengthy section of featureless plateau extends from Geal Charn, dropping south to cross a narrow ravine, before a steady pull south-east reaches the rounded wind-scoured summit of Meall Buidhe. After another short descent a steep rise east leads onto the ridge linking Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoith from where some remarkable scenery begins to unfold.
4
NN903998 Follow a path north along the ridge as it rises gradually onto the 1111m top of Sgoran Dubh Mor. The view along Gleann Eanaich and of Braeriach, with the deep bowls of Coire Dondail, Coire nan Clach and Coire Bogha-cloiche, is outstanding. From here head south, in full view of Braeriach, taking the easy climb to gain Sgor Gaoith’s pointed summit. Nonetheless care should be taken as the final push hugs the lip of the sheer cliffs and buttresses that plunge vertically from the summit all the way down into Loch Eanaich. Again the view, dominated by the immense form of Braeriach, is staggering with the Northern Corries, the great upland table of Lochaber and the West Highlands all visible on a clear day.
5
NN902989 From the summit the path continues south-southwest across A’ Chailleach but peters out when reaching a col at 1012m. From here the ground rises onto Carn Ban Mor, its broad, flat summit marked with a stone shelter. Here the vista extends across the wild lonely plateau of Glen
Feshie Forest and to Lochnagar as well as granting the opportunity to take in the walk’s exceptional scenery.
6
NN893971 Return to the col at 1012m from where a steep descent north-west, initially crossing rough and at times stony ground, drops into a remoter glen just east of Coire Ruadh. Progress is slow, but this lonelier landscape means there is a good chance of spotting mountain hare, while the outlook across Loch Insh to the Monadhliath is superb. The incline soon eases, with the ground improving. Keep on across heathery ground, picking up a good path which drops down to Allt a’ Chrom-alltain. Once across, the path traverses the lower slopes of Meall Tionall. Keep right when it splits around the hillside. Once over Allt a Coire na Cloiche the path carries on through Caledonian Pine woodland, soon descending to cross Allt nam Bo, after which the outward-bound path is regained. Go straight on and retrace steps back to the start.