Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/05/201012:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 36 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 14 Walk Hours: Bus Time to Walk: Bus Time from Walk: Departure time from walk:Walk Notes
Today we head westwards by Dufftown and Aviemore to Glenmore for some walks on the northern side of the Cairngorms. Various walks are possible from here but 3 walks are suggested below. Please indicate on the attendance sheet which walk you will be following. The 3 walks described start at different drop off points but will all finish at the “sugar bowl” car park on the Cairngorm ski road at a sharp bend about a mile from the Glenmore campsite (NGR 985 074).
(1) A low level walk around Loch an Eilein and Loch Morlich
Those choosing this walk will be dropped off at Inverdruie Visitor Centre (NGR 903 109) where the road southwards for Blackpark is taken which leads in a mile to the north end of Loch an Eilein. The northeast shore of the loch is then followed for half a mile to a fork in the road where a left hand track is taken. This leads in another mile to the Allt Druidh where the Cairngorm Footbridge is crossed and the path through Rothiemurchus Forest is followed east northeastwards to reach the west end of Loch Morlich. From there, a track round the south shore of the loch is followed which heads eastwards to join the ski road at NGR 980 091. A half mile walk southwards up the ski road then leads to the bus parking place.
Walking distance approximately 10 miles
(2) Cairngorm – from Coire Cas Ski Centre carpark (NGR 950 060)
From the car park, climb the steep slopes to the east to pick up the main path up Sron na Aonaich which climbs steadily to reach the upper terminus of the Cairngorm Railway. Alternatively, take the ski road up to the White Lady Sheiling at NGR 995 053 and follow the access road up Coire Cas to reach the same point near the Ptarmigan Restaurant. Both routes can now follow the stepped track southwards up the ridge to eventually reach the summit of Cairngorm (4085ft, 1245m). You can retrace your steps for a return to the carpark or do the following. From the summit take a path heading northwards past Marquis’ Well and onwards to reach the top of Cnap Coire na Spreidhe. Continue descending northwards over an unnamed 1028m top and follow the long ridge on the east side of Coire Laogh Mor to another top at 737m. If time permits you may want to climb to a further and spectacular top at Stac na h – Iolaire (742m). Otherwise descend southwestwards past the edge of a square plantation of trees to arrive above Lochan na Beinne. A path leads southwestwards to soon reach the ski road at Coire na Ciste carpark from where the road descends to our bus parking place.
Walking distance approximately 9 miles.
(3) From the “Sugarbowl” carpark cross the ski road and drop down to cross the Allt Creag an Leth-choin at Utsi’s bridge (built in commemoration to Mikel Utsi, the Swede or Laplander, who introduced reindeer into Scotland back in 1952). Follow this path sothwestwards into the Chalamain Gap. Once through this small ravine head southeastwards to climb to the summit of Creag an Leth-choin (Lurchers Crag, 1053m). Continue southeastwards past an unnamed top at 1053m and climb uphill to the 1215m summit of Cairn Lochan. From here head east and then northeast past Coire an Lochan and Coire an t- Sneachda to arrive at the 1141m cairn at the top of Fiacaill a’ Choire Chais ridge. Descend approx. NW down this ridge to gain the ski access road leading to the White Lady Sheiling and continue downhill past the ski centre carpark and onwards to our coach parking spot at “Sugarbowl”. Walking Distance approx. 14 miles.