Beinn Bhrotain, Monadh Mor and Glen Geusachan

[Caleb Wright]

This would turn into one of the most amazing Munro walks I have done. At the start the prospects did not look good, parking up at the Linn of Dee car park, it was a mad dash from the car to avoid the midges. The first view out west indicated the hills were very clagged in and 20 minutes into the walk I realised I had left the OS Map back in the car. I love a long walk in but, by the time we reached the White Bridge (disappointingly not white) in light rain, the day did not look too promising.

Approaching White Bridget

On the White Bridge

We crossed the bridge and took the right hand track, despite increasing clag we could see the Chest of Dee, eventually we found the Cairn and followed a rough path to the left gradually ascending up the south side of Carn Fiaclach, we did lose the path a couple of times but picked it up again on the slopes up to Carn Cloich-mhuilinn, I had been looking forward to the views from here, which I understand is a former Munro. Unfortunately clag was all that could be seen. We found the path onwards quite quickly and managed to navigate through the clag to the summit of Beinn Bhrotain. Again the views were non existent and we were debating whether to continue to Monadh Mor or head back, we decided that as the forecast was for improving conditions we would continue onwards. Finding our way to the bealach was difficult, particularly clambering over the bolders with no sign of what may well have been an obvious path. We had actually veered slightly too south but managed to correct ourselves and find the bealach and path onto Monadh Mor. There are actually a few cairns on Monadh Mor and I think we visited them all!

On Beinn Bhrotain

Braving rain and wind on Monadh Mor

Still hopeful for the weather to improve we decided to visit Loch nan Stuirteag, with a lot of work using compass bearings and no obvious path we finally emerged from the clag with a stunning view of the loch and the mountains behind, including Cairn Toul. This was such an impressive late lunch stop and felt as isolated as I had ever felt. We made our way quite steeply down to the loch and found a sort of path heading down Glen Geusachan. Ahead of us were some impressive views of Beinn Bhrotain.

Loch nan Stuirteag

Beinn Bhrotain from Glen Geusachan

The path gradually improved (alongside the weather) as it worked its way down the glen, although there was a suprising amount of frog dodging! We then met another path coming from the bealach between Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mor. The path then worked its way around the north of Beinn Bhrotain with stunning views of The Devil's Point, the Lairig Ghru, Ben Macdui and the Carn a'Mhaim arete. The weather had improved considerably and we closed the loop following the path and then track back to the Linn of Dee. The walk back was relaxed in the setting sun and we were back at the Linn of Dee car park just before sundown, the midges were waiting so we didn't hang around.

Glen Geusachan

Carn a'Mhaim, Ben Macdui arete.

Ben Macdui

Carn a ' Mhaim

Looking back to the Lairig Ghru

Looking back