Cairn Gorm itself is the best known and most visited mountain of the range. With a high level car park and extensive ski developments as well as a funicular railway, it can seem somewhat spoiled, but this longer approach via Cairn Lochan has terrific scenery and escapes from the worst of the damage.
Summary
In perfect summer conditions this is a straightforward hillwalk, but the route passes close to the edges of cliffs - heavily corniced when there is snow - and requires respect and navigation skills.
Terrain
NH989059
Grid ref
11km/6.75 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Users'
rating
Public transport
1. Park at the large car park at the Ski centre and the foot of the funicular railway. The quickest route up Cairngorm ascends the old track to the Ptarmigan restaurant and continues to the summit from there - a trudge, far from the most impressive features of the mountain and hardly worthy of such a famous summit. The route given here is much longer and has more ups and downs, but enables you to visit the dramatic cliff scenery of the northern corries. Head west using the steps and cross over the bridge; on the far side the path heads up some steps and bends right across the moor, soon joining another path. At the fork, keep to the lower, right hand path - the other new path heads up into Coire an t-Sneachda. The path continues across the moor and soon crosses the Allt Coire an t-Sneachda with the help of stepping stones. At the next fork beyond - with a much poorer path - again keep to the larger, lower path.
2. Cross the next stream, which issues from Coire an Lochain, and continue on the path up onto the wide ridge of Miadan Creag an Leth-choin; ignore the smaller path which cuts across the slope. As height is gained great views open up on the left, across the gulf of Coire an Lochain - with its tiny lochan - to Cairn Lochan. The path peters out on the flatter boggy area at the top of this ridge. Continue south until you reach a good point to strike uphill across stony terrain to the summit ridge of Cairn Lochan. There are two summit cairns - both close to the vertical plateau edge and with a gully between them; there have been fatal accidents here when there is snow on the ground and visibility is poor.
3. In clear summer conditions however there is no difficulty following the plateau edge to the northeast, with great views down into the corrie. There are famous climbs up these cliffs, such as the classic Savage Slit. After about four hundred metres the path leaves the edge and descends across the slopes, slightly south of east; this is a key turning as the natural line leads out onto the craggy Fiacaill Ridge. The route soon comes close to the cliffs once more, this the corrie below is the even more celebrated climbing area of Coire an t-Sneachda. There is a narrower bealach at 1111 metres before an ascent to the cairn on Stob Coire an t-Sneachda, a grand traverse.
Photo ©Richard Webb, licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
4. The route continues in the same direction before curving round to the left and descending and reascending before reaching the cairn and small tor at the top of the Fiacaill a' Choire Cas ridge. This ridge can used for the descent, but if you were wanting to reach the summit of Cairngorm, continue eastwards, crossing a short dip before climbing the broad stony slopes to the summit. There is a weather station here and this is a long way from feeling the wildest of the Munros, but the view northwards across Strathspey is magnificent. The summit has become less crowded in recent years since passengers on the new funicular railway are not allowed to continue the ascent, whilst the old chairlift it replaced carried scores of ill-equipped tourists close to the summit.
5. Descend northwards on a well-worn path to the Ptarmigan restaurant at the top of the funicular railway. From here, the descent continues down the broad Sron an Aonaich ridge; part way down follow the path as it bears left and descends across the slopes to return to the car park.
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