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A big Cairngorms walk had been central to my list of walking goals for 2023, and never a finer opportunity had presented itself than when staying at Omi's parents on a week of Sunny annual leave and with some relative fitness in my legs.
A very claggy Lairig Ghru initially, however by the Pools of Dee the clouds parted and the sun shone for the remaining hours. After hearing about and reading of the high places here - Corrour bothy, Devil's Point, Cairn Toul, Angel's Peak, Braeriach (particularly the stories of rescues from the book 'Cairngorm John') - it was brilliant to finally be in and around the land of the giants. As a man I met at the bothy stated: "you won't see them like this again for a very long time". I think he was right.
Aside from the length, I didn't find any part of this walk especially difficult or taxing, bar the Chalamain gap on return - after so many hours of sun, full concentration was needed. A couple of bits of snow on Cairn Toul and Braeriach just about hanging on, can imagine they disappeared not too long after. Ended up with some classic Scottish sunburn on the back of my neck and legs. I did wear suncream, honest!
A day that will live long in the memory.
