West of Lairig Ghru from Glenmore
Hillwalking route up Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine
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.Route outline
Map base ©OpenStreetMap
| Munros | Braeriach Cairn Toul Sgor an Lochain Uaine | |||
| Ascent | 1850m (6060ft) | |||
| Distance | 28km (18m) | |||
| Time | 10:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Sugar Bowl car-park Grid Ref : NH985073 | |||
| Terrain |
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| Nav |
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| Effort |
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The terrain changes dramatically from heather in the glens and lower hillsides, giving way to grass and boulder-fields higher up. Hiking on the arctic-like tundra on the plateaux you'll discover hidden lochans and waterfalls.
This route starts from the Sugar Bowl car-park and heads through the Carn a'Chlamain Gap to the Lairig Ghru on a fine path. Other alternative starting points begin from Loch Morlich and Coylumbridge, which are longer and through forestry, but offset by cycling part on estate tracks part of the way.
On the high plateaux, paths can for the most part be traced, though frequently paths disappear into boulderfield and 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.
Route detail
Getting to the Sugar Bowl car-park »
- On the south side of Aviemore, there is a roundabout, from where the road to Cairngorm Mountain begins. It's a journey of around 12km passing lovely Loch Morlich on the way. The car-park is located on a sharp uphill bend around 3km beyond Loch Morlich.
- There is a parking charge, £2 at time of writing, or you can buy a season-pass from Glenmore Visitor Centre.
- There are alternative starting points at Coylumbridge and the western end of Loch Morlich. Both of these are slightly longer, though you can bike it in for a fair distance.
Through the Carn a'Chalamain Gap to Lairig Ghru »
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From the Sugar Bowl car-park, cross the road and on a well-constructed path, head down towards the Allt Mor burn. Over the bridge
and climb up the other side out of woodland. Reindeer are kept in the fenced area by here.
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Follow the path into the Chalamain Gap
, a weird rocky gash. 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. Out the other side, staying on the path, drop down into the Lairig Ghru 
.
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Now in the Lairig Ghru, follow another path south-east to the highest point on the pass at 835m , marked with a cairn. The path does get a bit faint in bits and easily lost.
Cairn Toul »
-
From the highest point in the Lairig Ghru, aim south to the Pools of Dee
, then pick up a very faint path on the western side of the Lairig Ghru. The path comes and goes as it cuts a way through heather, dropping gently and turning south-west into Garbh Coire. Approaching the Allt a'Gharbh-choire, the path disappears, but you should be able to see the refuge ahead 
(grid ref NN959986) - make a beeline for this, crossing the burn on the way (difficult or impossible in spate). Note the refuge is marked on Harvey Maps and OS Landranger, but not on OS Explorer.
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Aiming immediately south of the refuge, try and pick a route through heather and begin climbing. The steep ground above and ahead is slabby, but there is a break between the crags
and a faint and loose path zig-zags a route through this and up onto the ground near the outlflow of Lochan Uaine 
.
-
Ahead there are a couple of route choices up :
- Cairn Toul's northern spur
The easiest line is to cross the outflow of the lochan and head up Cairn Toul's north ridge. This is a wide shoulder with some boulderfield, but is relatively straightforward aiming directly for Cairn Toul's summit and gives a lovely views back over the lochan to Braeriach. - Sgor an Lochain Uaine's north-east ridge
Instead of crossing the outflow of Lochan Uaine, turn south-west and begin clambering over boulders up Sgor an Lochain Uaine's north-east shoulder. The terrain begins to get scrambly (Grade 1), but never too difficult until higher up, where an angled slab is met - turn to the left to go around. Next the crux of the ridge is reached - intimidating rock blocks the way. Go to the right a few steps and look directly up, a commiting clamber onto a ledge is required, thereafter some easy scrambling leads to the summit of the Angel's Peak, Sgor an Lochan Uaine
.
Obviously you'll need to do a there-and-back to Cairn Toul from Sgor an Lochain Uaine's summit
- Cairn Toul's northern spur
-
There are two cairns on Cairn Toul's summit crest
, the northern one marks the top.
Sgor an Lochain Uaine »
- 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.
- 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.
Braeriach »
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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 artic-like tundra. Carn na Criche
is the high point of the next plateau, there's a small cairn on the summit, which can be by-passed if taking a direct route onwards.
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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.
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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, in winter, beware the cornices that can form ! . Views are stunning, particulary back over to Cairn Toul.
Return through the Carn a'Chlamain Gap »
- 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).
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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 re-trace your route back to your start point.
Route profile »
Maps and GPX downloads »
Weather forecasts & webcams »
Guided hillwalking events in this area »
Route photos
Cairn Toul from the Pools of Dee in the Lairig Ghru
Garbh Choire refuge below Sgor an Lochain Uaine
Heading up the northern shoulder of Cairn Toul
Leaving Cairn Toul and heading up Sgor an Lochain Uaine
Summit of Braeriach
Descending Braeriach back towards the Lairig GhruRecent blog posts
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