Auchallater to Spittal of Gen Muick – Carn an t-Sagairt Mor & Other Possible Munros

Date/Time

Date(s) - 08/06/2025
8:00 am - 8:30 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: If Time Permits
O/S Map Sheet No.: 43,44
Grid Ref. Start: 155 882
Grid Ref. Finish 311 851
Walk (Miles): 14.5
Walk Hours: 7.5
Bus Time to Walk:2.5 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 2.5 hrs
Departure time from walk: 6:00 pm

Walk Notes

 

Main Walk.

We will be dropped off at car park off the A93 on the south side of the bridge over the Callater Burn by Auchallater Farm. The walk begins up the track, which is signed as a public path to Clova – a reminder that this is part of the historic route known as Jock’s Road. The track goes through a gate (locked to vehicular traffic) and soon bends to the right to enter the barren lower reaches of Glen Callater.

Ignore a branch off to the right and stay on the main track, eventually crossing a bridge over the Callater Burn and continuing up the far side of the glen. There are good views back to Ben Avon, identifiable by the line of granite tors along its summit. At one point there is a small quarry on the left and a smaller track going off to the right; continue on the main route.

After a while the fences and buildings of Callater Loch Lodge come into view. The track forks again; this time take the left branch. A path goes off to the left by the fence – this is an old stalkers path that leads eventually to Lochnagar.

This brings you to the cairns on the summit of Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr; there are two cairns, with the more southerly being the higher. Just to the north is a large piece of wreckage – a part of an RAF Canberra aircraft which crashed into the hillside here in 1956. There are further fragments of wreckage spread over a wide area of the mountain.

Descend southeast from the cairn to the wide, featureless bealach. This is truly bleak country, and navigation could be difficult in bad weather; the summit of Cairn Bannoch at 1012 metres, is easier to spot in better conditions, with its cairn atop an outcrop, itself topping a small conical peak. Continue southeast, bypassing Cairn of Gowal, to gain an ever improving path to the final Munro, Broad Cairn. This summit can be avoided on its south side by a stalkers path, but today’s bagging generation of walkers have blazed a new path over the summit cairn. This is a better viewpoint, with Loch Muick in view, whilst to the northwest the plateau collapses in the great precipices of Creag an Dubh Loch.

Continue east from the summit, descending a boulder field to join a bulldozed track across the plateau. Follow this as it curves southeast before it curves back left to come close to the edge of the steep slopes above Loch Muick. The track runs across the top of these slopes for some distance, giving excellent views of the Loch, before it reaches the end of the plateau and descends in a series of zigzags. Cross the bridge over the Black Burn and continue on the track which still keeps some height above Loch Muick. Pass close to the boathouse near the foot of the loch, and continue straight ahead on the track to return to the Spittal of Glenmuick. The bus will be waiting for us in the furthest away car park.

Distance: 14.4 Miles; Walking time: 7hrs 10 mins approx.; Ascent:2,838 feet; Descent: 2,661 feet.

Download file: Auchallater-to-Spittal-of-Glenmuick-via-Broad-Cairn.gpx

Alternative Route from Carn an t-Sagairt Mor taking in 2 Munros -The White Mounth & Lochnagar

If you’d like to head over to Lochnagar taking in the Carn a’ Choire Bhoideach (White Mounth) on the way, you would have to return via a route taking you along the edge of the cliffs & close to  Meikle Pap & down the Clais Rathadan. This will cut it very fine for time as returning by the Glas Allt and along Loch Muick isn’t possible with the timeframe we have unfortunately.

Download file: auchallater-to-glen-muick.gpx

Distance: 14.6 miles; Walking Time 7 hrs 40 mins approx; Ascent: 3,442 feet; Descent: 3,307 feet.

Any deviation from the main walk must be communicated to the committee member in charge that day (Paul).

Bus Departs Spittal of Glenmuick Car Park at 6:00 pm.

The above notes are for guidance only and are intended as an aid to be used along with a map and compass and/or a GPS device with OS maps. In the event of an emergency arising the person in charge of the walk today should be notified, if possible, before the emergency services are contacted on 999.

Committee member in charge – Paul Mackie – 07891125532

Cancellations/Waiting List: It is important to contact Gilbert (Mobile number 07807240817) if you cannot attend & have to cancel your booking. The bus is often fully booked which means any cancelled seats can be re-allocated to those persons on a waiting list. Anyone unsuccessful in booking a seat should contact Gilbert who will put them on a waiting

 

 

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