Munros above Geldie Lodge

Near White Bridge on the track to Geldie Lodge

From Braemar, drive west along its main street, veering right at Braemar Brewery and Hazelnut Patisserie, then continue on an unclassified road for 9km to the bridge over the Linn of Dee. Cross the bridge, turn sharp right and you'll come to a large car-park on your left. There is a one-way system around this car-park which is operated by the National Trust for Scotland and there is a daily charge of £3 to park.

By Red Hut in Geldie Burn

On bike, leave the car-park onto the road, turn right and head back towards the bridge at Linn of Dee. Just before the bridge a barrier blocks a track heading off west. Cycle along this track for 4.5km to White Bridge .

Cross the bridge and keep on the main track heading south-west. After another 2km, the track turns west, passes Red Hut , then becomes quite rough as it continues to a knackered wooden bridge (sign saying dangerous to cross).

Beyond the bridge the track becomes easier, but further on the Allt Dhaidh Mor needs crossing, which can be tricky in spate. The track then drops down to Geldie Burn , probably the best place to leave bikes (as the track west of Geldie Lodge is now a path with the NTS removing the track in the early 2000's - most maps have been updated to reflect this).

Crossing Geldie Burn is a doddle in summer, but in spate, it will demand that you take your footwear off ! On the south side of Geldie Burn, the sad ruin of Geldie Lodge is 400m up a track.

Hiking from Geldie Lodge towards Carn an Fhidhleir

From behind Geldie Lodge, follow a fine path westwards to its end , some 3km away. The path ends abruptly, from where a rough boot-worn paths cuts a route through heather and over soggy ground to drop to the Allt a'Chaorainn .

Cross this burn, then pick up and follow a faint path through the heather for around 1km. As the gradient starts to steepen, the path disappears, but sections of grass surrounding one of the burns make a clear way uphill. Eventually the grass gives way to boulders - a sign that Carn an Dhidhleir's crest is nearly reached.

Once up onto the crest , turn south and attain Carn an Fhidhleir's summit with its small cairn.

Hiking up An Sgarsoch with Carn Ealar behind

If the mist is down on Carn an Fhidhleir, navigational skills will be needed to continue to An Sgarsoch.

From the cairn on Carn an Fhidhleir, aim south-east following a faint path and drop to a bealach before the rise up to the top marked on the OS map with a spot height of 906m. Don't head up this, instead look for a faint path heading east-south-east. This path becomes more obvious and gradually turns to drop on wet grass and tussocky ground to the peaty bealach below An Sgarsoch.

Cross the bealach and pick up a faint path through the heather climbing up the An Sgarsoch's western shoulder. The heather gives way to grass and stones higher up and eventually the large cairn on An Sgarsoch's summit is reached. This is a fine summit for views on clear days. On windy days, the cairn provides plenty shelter for a few hardy folk.

Returning to Geldie Lodge, view to Beinn Bhrotain

Leave An Sgarnoch's summit and follow a barely distinguisable path for 1km east. Turn north and start losing height following the crest of An Sgarsoch's north-east shoulder. At around 800m contour, the ground steepens somewhat and thick heather will need bounded over.

Further down the ground levels out and becomes easier to progress following the grass covered banks of the Allt Coire an t-Seilich . Count how many times you cross this burn ! A path evolves on the west side of the burn and Geldie Lodge is approached. Cross Geldie Burn, pick up your bike and return back to Linn-of-Dee.