Cairngorm Recommendations

[LarryDavid]

Hi all,

First of all, I have used this site a number of times for information but this is the first time I have registered and posted so thanks for the wealth of knowledge these forums provide.

So, me and 3 friends are planning a week long trip up to Cairngorms National Park and want to do a three day hike, taking in a few munros. We are not particularly experienced walkers, but are fairly fit and can competently read a map.

We aim to walk around 10 miles a day, and would possibly like to start from the south/western border of the park as we have some activities booked in Pitlochey a few days before we plan to start out. This isn't a deal breaker though as we have access to a car so can travel to a starting point further afield.

Would you be so kind to recommend a few routes for us? I plan to write report on our return.

We're setting off on Thursday next week.

Thanks in advance.

Jack

[davekeiller]

You would be well advised to keep an eye on the weather and keep plans flexible to go where it's driest.
One option would be to park the car near the ski area at Cairngorm and walk out to Corrour bothy on day 1, do a circular walk from the bothy on day 2 and walk back out on day 3.
The walk in/out could just be through the Lairig Ghru as an easy(ish) low level option especially if the weather is poor. It would also be possible to include an ascent of Ben Macdui and Cairngorm or an ascent of Braeriach and/or Cairn Toul.

[Driftwood]

Close to Pitlochry, there are the hills north from Glen Tilt. Depending on your overnight plans, about 10 miles/day could get you from the Old Bridge of Tilt up to the bothy at Allt Scheicheachan, then over Beinn Dearg to Feith Uaine (the Tarf Hotel) and finally back over Carn a'Chlamain to the carpark again.

From the deer stalking info on WH, the main paths to the Munros (Beinn Dearg and Carn a'Chlamain) are fine, though it'd be best to check further about the route between them. I walked this in a dry summer a couple of years ago (and included Beinn Mheadhonach plus a couple of other Munros), though that'd make for at least one long day, or might need an extra day in the middle of the trip.
Keeping to that outline route should minimise burn crossings, though you'd have some trackless and likely boggy ground between BD and the Tarf Hotel.

[Caberfeidh]

If the weather is windy then I would advise against going anywhere near the Lairig Ghru as it acts as a wind-tunnel even on relatively calm days. Glen Feshie is a nice route into the hills, with ancient Caledonian pine forest and all the wildlife which goes with that. Follow the Feshie up until the Eidart meets it, then follow the Eidart up into the hills and come out at the Devil's Point, near Corrour Bothy. From there a hike over the shoulder of Carn a Mhaim to Derry Lodge and the heady delights of Bob Scott's bothy downstream from the lodge, or up into Glen Derry towards Larig an Loaigh or down Glen Lui to the Linn O' Dee. The way from Linn O'Dee up the Glen O'Dee to Corrour via the Chest O'Dee is a long flat trudge which will sap your will to live. Ryvoan and the Green Loch from Glen More Lodge would be nicer. Or take advantage of the ski centre road to get high up and visit the corries at Corrie an Sneachda and Corrie an Lochan.

[LarryDavid]

Thanks very much for the replies so far!

The weather is looking fairly calm at the moment but we will keep an eye on it and will definitely be taking on some of the tips mentioned here.

[Jobax]

if you're in pitlochry then as someone else mentioned theres the hills around glen tilt, beinn a ghlo (3 munros) in addition to the ones already mentioned. just a short drive up the A9 to Blair Atholl to start.