Spittal of Glen Muick Car Park

[notthereal AW]

Hi - Can anybody tell when in their experience the Car Park gets full on a Sunday. We're planning a walk from there on 2nd May. We have a 2 hour drive and wonder if we arrive at 8am whether that's too late.

[KatTai]

I think you should be okay, it was gone 12pm when they tweeted the car park was full last Saturday, no tweet for the Sunday so not sure if that means the car park didn't end up full or no one was tweeting that day

[Sunset tripper]

From the 26th April it's a free for all, especially at the weekends.
Totally unscientific study but just going from last year when lockdown eased and at weekends. I arrived at the North face car park at 7am on a Sunday and had to park sensibly just outside the car park.
Glen Shiel was also close to full at 7am on a saturday.
Some spaces unfortunately are taken overnight by campervans and at the NF some inconsiderate campervan parking also.

Glen Muick car park is very popular also but a fair size so hard to tell really, but I would try and be there at 7am at the latest or go somewhere less popular or at least have a plan B. Another problem at Glen Muick could be getting out the single track road at the end of the day if the volume of cars is not monitored.
Of course the poorer the weather the more available parking.
All the best

[notthereal AW]

Thanks both for the speedy replies and advice. I'm thinking it could be a 4am wake up and out of the hotel by 5am. We've been planning Lochnagar etc. for ages and really want to pass 100 Munros on that route so will take our chances.

[Scottk]

It’s not a free for all as the road will be closed if it is too busy as the council has put in place byelaws for the summer for this car park and Linn of Dee. Last year, the cat park was getting full by 8/ 8:30 with quite a few camper vans and tents about (which had obviously been there for the night).
I parked in the bus car park a couple of times as bus trips were not allowed.
If you do get stuck, you can easily come in from the Braemar side.
Great day out - enjoy yourselves.

[nealej81]

You can do Lochnagar from Invercauld too if it's busy at Glen Muick.