Cairngorm and Ben Macdui
Hillwalking route up Ben Macdui and Cairngorm including a rock-scrambling option on Fiacaill Ridge
Ben Macdui and Cairngorm are two of the highest mountains in the country and rest in 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.Route outline
Map base ©OpenStreetMap
| Munros | Cairngorm Ben Macdui | |||
| Ascent | 1000m (3280ft) | |||
| Distance | 17km (11m) | |||
| Time | 6:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Cairngorm Mountain car-park Grid Ref : NH990059 | |||
| Terrain |
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| Nav |
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| Effort |
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The slopes leading up to the Munro summits begin from a height of around 650m above sea-level and are never too steep, so in clear summer conditions this is a straightforward route. Winter conditions change the situation dramatically, with some parts of the route holding snow into late spring.
For the most part of the route, terrain underfoot is on fine, well-maintained paths striking a way through stoney and bouldery ground. There are some wide grass covered plains between Stob Coire an t-Sneachda and Ben Macdui with artic-like tundra higher up. 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.
The recommended return route follows a fine path, but an excellent rock-scrambling option is to descend Fiacaill Ridge. This is classed as a Grade 1 summer rock-scramble and there are easy escape lines for those not wanting to stick to the crest.
Snow-bunting can be seen all year round and often you'll spot reindeer ! Being local to the area, this is one of my favourite hill-runs !
Route detail
Getting to Cairngorm Mountain car-park »
- 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 bus service from Aviemore.
- To park, Cairngorm Mountain asks for a donation, suggesting £2.
Cairngorm »
- Leave the car-park and head up to the buildings of the ski centre. Begin uphill on a track between the main buildings and immediately after passing under the funicular railway, take the path off left at where a a sign points up "Windy Ridge Path".
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This is a well constructed path, quite steep to begin with and initially twisting and turning. The incline of the path easies as it crosses the M2 ski run and then heads directly towards the Top Station and Ptarmigan Restaurant
.
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Beyond the restaurant, another well constructed path, with posts (and in summer, rope) on either side, heads towards Cairngorm's summit.
Once the last of the posts is passed, a series of cairns mark the route to the summit of Cairngorm
where there is a large cairn and Cairngorm Automatic Weather Station just behind.
Ben Macdui »
- Leave the weather station and head due west over the bouldery ground. You should be able to pick up a faint path as you begin to head downhill (snow and ice take their toll on this path). The path drops down to a level area and by-passes 'Point 1141' to reach a bealach above some airy drops into Coire an t-Sneachda below.
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Uphill, a path can be traced onto the minor summit of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda
, a superb spot for taking in views !
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Continue walking south-west handrailing 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 south, then south-west for around 2km over grass-covered ground to Lochan Buidhe 
- a fine place to stop and take in the atmosphere.
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Beyond the lochan, the path turns more southwards and begins to climb. Grassy ground is left behind for stony tundra with patches of boulderfield. A series for cairns aid navigation in mist, though the path is fairly clear most of the way. Ben Macdui's summit
has a large cairn, ontop of which is a trig pillar and to the side is a viewfinder. Because Ben Macdui has such a large summit, you might have to walk away from the top for the best views, particularly for Cairn Toul and Braeriach.
Return »
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To return, begin by retracing your steps back towards Lochan Buidhe
. Just before reaching the lochans, there are options for the route back :
- The easiest line, a pleasant walk above Lurcher's Crag
On the path, just before reaching Lochan Buidhe, a small cairn marks the start of another path running parallel. Take this and it gradually turns north-west and begins to climb. It levels out, contours around the mass of Cairn Lochan and then drops to a wide flat area
at the source of the burns heading down into Coire an Lochain. The path now much more obvious and constructed, heads down the spur above the west side of Coire an Lochain to cross the Allt Coire an t-Sneachda and travel back to the ski centre.
- A rock-scramble over Fiacaill Ridge
Follow the route above and where the path levels out, leave it and continue uphill northwards. As the rise begins to level out, head north-east on the pathless wide crest and head for the cairn on Cairn Lochan
, perched above huge drops into Coire an Lochain below. Follow the rim of the coire north-east to gain the top of Fiacaill Ridge 
. Descent down the ridge is a Grade 1 summer rock-scramble and is not particularly exposed with by-pass routes on the west side on loose scree. Lower down a path leads through boulderfield and stony ground, joining the path in the above route just before meeting the crossing of the Allt Coire an t-Sneachda .
- Most direct route, via the 'Goat Track'
From Lochan Buidhe, retrace your steps back to the bealach above Coire an t-Sneachda, then descend steeply on an obvious path that twists down to the boulderfield surrounding the lochans 
in Coire an t-Sneachda. North of the lochans, terrain becomes easier underfoot and a well-contsructed path leads out of the coire and back to the ski centre.
Note that the 'Goat Track' is only passable with technical gear in icy winter conditions !
- The easiest line, a pleasant walk above Lurcher's Crag
Route profile »
Maps and GPX downloads »
Weather forecasts & webcams »
Guided hillwalking events in this area »
Route photos
Heading down Cairngorm towards Coire an t-Sneachda
Looking back to Cairngorm from Stob Coire an t-Sneachda
Heading up Ben Macdui from Lochan Buidhe
Ben Macdui from Cairngorm
On the summit of Ben Macdui
Fiacaill RidgeRecent blog posts
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 | 8 Feb'20 Beinn Dearg |
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Upcoming events
 | 6-7 Aug Ben Nevis and Lochaber 4000s |
 | 22-23 Aug Cairngorm 4000ers |
 | 26 August Ben Lui raid |
 | 29-30 Aug Assynt |
 | 5-6 Sep Glen Ey bike-hike |
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