Loch Etchachan, the highest loch.

[IainG]

Date: 9th April 2011
Present: Me and Molly
Distance: 21 miles
Time: around 7hrs

I'd fancied this walk for some time. No hill bagging, just a long, fine walk into the heart of the Cairngorms. I'd read recently that Loch Etchachan was not only the highest loch of this size in the UK, but also it normally held ice seven months of the year.

It was a great walk and thoroughly recommended. A long route, but with some excellent scenery.

It was a bit gloomy as we headed up through Glenshee the day before.





We started off fairly early on the Saturday morning. The carpark at the Linn of Dee was almost full at 0900. The usual sidestepping and dodging bikes as we headed along the path to Derry Lodge. Passing the numerous campers, we stopped and took the opportunity for a quick bite amongst the lovely Caledonian Pines.







We plodded for another few miles along Glen Derry.



The coire we were heading for was still looking a bit gloomy.



Following the track to the fork, we headed into Coire Etchachan.



Molly was loving the day out..



We followed the path up to the Hutchison Memorial Hut.





A very Alpine feel about the hut and its surroundings.



We followed the path up to the coire rim and emerged at the Loch.

Still lots of ice...





Looking back over the coire rim.



A brilliant day out!

[Border Reiver]

Great Photos and report. This is one of my favourite routes to Ben MacDhui. Coire Etchacan in springtime is so picturesque.

[ChrisW]

some cracking photo's there Iain

[IainG]

Cheers for the comments! The beauty of film photography.

It is a very picturesque spot.

[Alastair S]

Must have just missed you Iain - I cycled out of the car park at 09:30. Don't remember cycling past many people on the way up - maybe you were in the woods from the car park when I took the longer (but quicker on a bike) route on the road & track.

Anyway super photos. I've only been up that way once and it was snowing at the time so I didn't linger. Hoping for something better when I get round to doing Beinn Mheadhoin.

[Penguin]

Nice report and pictures. Looks like a great route and it's on my list to do.

Penguin

[skuk007]

Nice photos Iain, really like the format you selected for them, they all just seem to work really well.
My next trip up North is fast approaching and it's to this area. Seen lots of reports recently on the Cairngorms so this justs wets my appetite even more. Thanks.

[IainG]

Nice photos Iain, really like the format you selected for them, they all just seem to work really well

The pictures were taken with a Hasselblad Xpan camera. I've mentioned it before I think, it's a landscape camera which takes a double width 35mm negative.

I'm a bit of a photo geek and had decided with the forecast good weather to lug the camera and its bits and pieces up here to get some nice photos. It's a fair weight, its an alloy chassis, clad in titanium and rubber and being wide format, its large. I also took a spotmeter and a bucket load of film.

I should have taken a Donkey with me, not a dog!!

[IainG]

Must have just missed you Iain - I cycled out of the car park at 09:30. Don't remember cycling past many people on the way up - maybe you were in the woods from the car park when I took the longer (but quicker on a bike) route on the road & track.

Alastair, you must have been just in front of me. I was passed by a lot of folk on bikes both on the walk in and the way out.

There was one young bloke who passed me coming down Glen Derry, up near the fork for Coire etchachan. He had cycled from Blair Atholl and was returning via Linn of Dee and White Bridge!!

[Graeme D]

A great report Iain. Loch Etchachan really is a special place in the heart of the Cairngorms. Been there a couple of times but never camped for the night by the loch. Would definitely love to do that some time.