Ben Macdui from Braeriach

Cairngorm 4000s

Hillwalking route over the 4000ft plus mountains of the Cairngorms

The vast plateaux of the Cairngorms in Scotland's eastern highlands rise above huge cliffs and dark corries. On the plateaux are five of the UK's mountains over 4000ft including Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Cairngorm and these can be bagged in one circular route from Glenmore.



Route outline


Munros

Cairn Gorm, 

Ben Macdui, 

Cairn Toul, 

Sgor an Lochain Uaine, 

Braeriach

Ascent 2250m (7380ft)
Distance 28km (18m)
Time 10:45hr
Start Cairngorm Mountain car-park
Grid Ref : NH990059
Finish Sugar Bowl car-park
Grid Ref : NH985073
Terrain
easy hard
Nav
easy hard
Effort
easy hard
Scenery
ok fab


Terrain varies over the route, heather lower down leading to grass higher up and onto arctic-like tundra on the plateaux. A fair amount of the route is on paths, though when away from paths, good navigation skills will be needed. Some of the route follows the rims of coires above huge drops down to hiddens lochans, beware cornices can extend well beyond the edges in winter.

Starting at a height above 600m, there's less ascent than expected, with the descent down Ben Macdui into the Lairig Ghru and Glen Dee followed by the climb up Cairn Toul being the most demanding part of the route. A good option for hillwalkers is to back-pack this route over 2 days, overnighting in Glen Dee.

Fellrunning will get these Munros bagged in one day. If you fancy having a go at beating the record around the Cairngorm 4000s, it currently stands at under 4 hours and it starts and finishes from Glenmore Lodge. Details are on the Scottish Hillrunners website.



Route map

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Route description


1. Getting to Cairngorm Mountain car-park

Cairngorm from the Day Lodge

Cairngorm from the Day Lodge

On the south side of Aviemore, there is a roundabout, from where the road to Glenmore and Cairngorm Mountain begins. It's a journey of around 15km passing lovely Loch Morlich on the way.

There is a frequent bus service from Aviemore direct to Cairngorm Day Lodge.

To park in the Cairngorm Day Lodge car-park costs from £3 outwith the winter snowsports season.

During the winter snowsports season parking is free, however it may be very busy or even full, in which case parking in the lower Coire Ciste car-park is recommended - from where an approach to Cairngorm is made via Cnap Coire na Spreidhe.


2. Cairngorm

Windy Ridge path with Cairngorm behind

Windy Ridge path with Cairngorm behind

From the large car-park head up on the track between the Day Lodge and Base Station. Immediately after passing under the funicular railway, take the path off left at where a sign points to the "Windy Ridge Path".

The path is well constructed and is quite steep to begin with, initially twisting and turning as it climbs aside the Day Lodge Piste.

The path turns eastwards away from the piste, with the incline easing a little. Higher up it crosses through a wooden snow-fence and over the M2 ski run while gradually turning southwards as it climbs Sron an Aonaich.

Crossing back over the ski pistes, the Top Station and Ptarmigan Restaurant are reached. Above this building, a well constructed path with a line of posts either side (linked together in summer with rope), begins the final climb towards Cairngorm's summit.

Snow bunting on Cairngorm's summit

Snow bunting on Cairngorm's summit

Once the final posts are passed, a series of cairns mark the route to the summit of Cairngorm , where there is a large well constructed cairn with the Cairngorm Automatic Weather Station nearby.

Snow bunting on Cairngorm's summit

Snow bunting on Cairngorm's summit


3. Ben Macdui

Descending Cairngorm, Cairn Lochan ahead

Descending Cairngorm, Cairn Lochan ahead

Leave Cairngorm's cairn and weather station and head due west over bouldery ground. A constructed path can be picked up and followed downhill, though this may not be too obvious as snow and ice take their toll on it.

The path drops down to level ground and bypasses 'Point 1141' to reach a bealach above some airy drops into Coire an t-Sneachda below.

Uphill, the path can be traced through boulders onto the 'Munro Top' of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda , a superb spot for taking in views ! In winter, the crags and cliffs are famed for their winter climbing routes.

Continue walking south-westwards following the rim of Coire an t-Sneachda and drop to the next bealach above Coire Domhain.

To aim for Ben Macdui, turn left onto an obvious path and follow it southwards as it cuts through a grass-covered slope. The path turns south-west and travels for a further 1km to reach Lochan Buidhe - a fine place to stop and take in the atmosphere.

Beyond the lochan, the path turns more southwards and after another 1km, leaves the grass-covered plateau and begins to climb on more stony tundra with patches of boulderfield.

A series for cairns is met, aiding navigation on the approach to Ben Macdui, though the path is fairly clear most of the way.

Heading up Ben Macdui from Lochan Buidhe, Braeriach behind

Heading up Ben Macdui from Lochan Buidhe, Braeriach behind

Ben Macdui's boulder-covered summit has a large cairn, on top of which is a trig pillar, and a viewfinder nearby. Cairn Toul and Braeriach look spectacular from Ben Macdui, though due to Ben Macdui's vast flat large summit, a short wander from the summit will be needed to get the best views.

Heading up Ben Macdui from Lochan Buidhe, Braeriach behind

Heading up Ben Macdui from Lochan Buidhe, Braeriach behind


4. Cairn Toul

Descending Ben Macdui, Cairn Toul ahead

Descending Ben Macdui, Cairn Toul ahead

The descent off Ben Macdui will test your joints and there is no right or wrong way for this. I found that heading directly off from the summit ended up in boulderfield and then deep heather doing head-plants - direct and quick down to Glen Dee , but not the most enjoyable !

Instead, a better option would be to follow faint traces of path south-east to the top of the Allt Clach nan Taillear, then head south-west. A path can be picked up here-and-there, becoming more obvious lower down. As ground levels, the path turns to aim for Carn a'Mhaim, you'll need to leave it and bound over heather into Glen Dee.

On the north-east ridge of Cairn Toul

On the north-east ridge of Cairn Toul

Ahead there are route choices up Cairn Toul, all involving heathery ground lower down and boulderfield higher up :
  • The easiest line is to head up the north ridge , steep at first, it becomes wide and gives a lovely views back over Lochan Uaine to Braeriach (see the West of Lairig Ghru route for more info).
  • The most direct line is the north-east ridge which is pretty steep but without difficulty and climbs around the northern side of Coire an t-Sadhail aiming directly for Cairn Toul's northern top (and summit).
  • There is also the south-east ridge , around the southern side of Coire an t-Sadhail, which involves some Grade 1 and slightly exposed scrambling on the approach to Cairn Toul's southern top.
There are two cairns on Cairn Toul's summit crest , the northern one marks the top.

On the north-east ridge of Cairn Toul

On the north-east ridge of Cairn Toul


5. Sgor an Lochain Uaine (Angel's Peak)

On the way to Sgor an Lochan Uaine, looking back to Cairn Toul

On the way to Sgor an Lochan Uaine, looking back to Cairn Toul

From Cairn Toul's northern cairn, aim west and handrail the rim above Coire an Lochain Uaine. A path can be followed most of the way, occasionally zig-zagging to avoid some boulders, down to the bealach between Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine.

Looking to Ben Macdui from Sgor an Lochan Uaine

Looking to Ben Macdui from Sgor an Lochan Uaine

A straightforward hike north-west up just over 100 metres gains the summit of Sgor an Lochain Uaine (also known as The Angel's Peak), a fine viewpoint to Braeriach and Ben Macdui.

Looking to Ben Macdui from Sgor an Lochan Uaine

Looking to Ben Macdui from Sgor an Lochan Uaine


6. Braeriach (Am Braigh Riabhach)

Carn na Criche from the south-east

Carn na Criche from the south-east

Leaving Sgor an Lochain Uaine behind, hike south-west following the edge of the crags above Garbh Coire. Terrain underfoot is annoyingly bouldery in bits, but as height is lost, becomes more relaxed. From the next bealach, start uphill on a fine path cutting a route through the loose arctic-like tundra. Carn na Criche is the high point of the next plateau, there's a small cairn on the summit, which can be bypassed if taking a direct route onwards.

Now on grass-covered ground, aim north-north-east for the Wells of Dee , an extraordinary place where two burns meet, then flow over the Falls of Dee.

Summit of Braeriach

Summit of Braeriach

Cross the burns, then over bouldery ground, it's north-east up gently rising ground. Braeriach's summit appears abruptly, the cairn perched above massive drops of Coire Bhrochain. Views are stunning, particulary over to Cairn Toul.

Summit of Braeriach

Summit of Braeriach


7. Return through the Chalamain Gap

Descending Braeriach toward the Lairig Ghru

Descending Braeriach toward the Lairig Ghru

In winter, beware the cornices that can form ! Follow the rim of Coire Bhrochain north-east, then east. A path quickly forms as terrain gets easier, then leads down to the bealach below Sron na Lairige (if you're here and need to get out of wild weather, there is an escape route directly down to the Lairig Ghru below).

The path leads around Sron na Lairige's summit over a delightful grass-covered crest as it approaches the top of the crags above the Lairig Ghru. Just when legs are starting to tire, more stony ground and boulderfield needs crossed as the descent to the Lairig Ghru begins. The path becomes more maintained as it enters heather and does its final drop into the Lairig Ghru .

Cross the burn in the Lairig Ghru, then steeply straight uphill on the granite steps of the path aiming to the Chalamain Gap . The path through the gap is fine, but can be hard work in winter if banked up in snow, in which case, there is another path traversing above the crags on the north side of the gap.

On the way to the Lairig Ghru, Creag a' Chalamain ahead

On the way to the Lairig Ghru, Creag a' Chalamain ahead

Beyond the gap, a well-maintained path travels downhill (and up a wee bit) to the Sugar Bowl car-park, which is around 1km north of the Cairngorm ski-centre. Instead of heading back up the road, which is around 3km, there is a direct path from the bridge before the car-park, but at time of writing, the path is closed as the wooden walk-way on this is needing replaced (errosion washed it away a few years ago).

On the way to the Lairig Ghru, Creag a' Chalamain ahead

On the way to the Lairig Ghru, Creag a' Chalamain ahead





Route profile »




Maps and GPX downloads »


The Harvey Mountain Map for the Cairngorms is highly recommended. The OS Landranger 36 covers the route from the north, however if approaching from the south, the OS Landranger 43 will be needed. The OS Explorer and Harvey Superwalker are both fine, though the scale at 1:25000 is perhaps a bit too detailed.

Information on maps and GPX files is on this page.

The map images above link to items on Amazon. A small commission is earned on any map purchased which helps fund the operating costs of this website.





Weather forecasts »




Alternative and nearby routes »


Cairngorm and Ben Macdui

Ben Macdui and Cairngorm are two of the highest mountains in the country and both rest on the vast plateaux of the Cairngorms in Scotland's eastern highlands. Starting from a height of 650m and with gently rising slopes leading up to the Munro summits, this is a relatively easy route in clear summer conditions.

Peaks : 2 Munros

Ascent : 1000m (3280ft)
Distance : 17km (11m)
Time : 6hr

West of Lairig Ghru from Glenmore

West of the Lairig Ghru, huge cliffs rise to vast plateaux and some of the highest peaks in the land, Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine. Fine paths lead in from Glenmore and Coylumbridge and with the lowest point on the ridges between the Munro summits being above 1100m, the views are quite superb, particularly from Braeriach.

Peaks : 3 Munros

Ascent : 1850m (6070ft)
Distance : 28km (17m)
Time : 10hr

Cairngorm Darkside from the north

Between Aviemore and Braemar and east of the Lairig Ghru are vast plateaus with several Munro peaks amongst the hidden lochans, long narrow crests, dark corries, huge cliffs and weird granite tors. This route heads in from Cairngorm ski centre heading as far south as Derry Cairngorm. The hidden gem of Loch Avon with its undisturbed beaches is visited en route, nearby a search will find the 'Shelter Stone' - a place to overnight out of wind !

Peaks : 4 Munros

Ascent : 1730m (5680ft)
Distance : 27km (17m)
Time : 9:40hr

Meall a' Bhuachaille from Glenmore

A lovely walk through Scots Pine woodlands and past the 'Green Lochan', leads to lonely little Ryvoan Bothy, from where a direct ascent of Meall a' Bhuachaille is made via a decent path.

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 550m (1800ft)
Distance : 9km (6m)
Time : 3:15hr

Cairngorm darkside from Linn of Dee

Between Braemar and Aviemore and east of the Lairig Ghru are vast plateaus with several Munro peaks. amongst the hidden lochans, long narrow crests, dark corries, huge cliffs and weird granite tors. Healthy forests surround the area with a diverse wildlife and, if you're lucky, you might come across a reindeer herd feeding on the arctic-like tundra.

Peaks : 4 Munros

Ascent : 1850m (6070ft)
Distance : 35km (22m)
Time : 10:15hr









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