Braeriach Bagged

[lomondwalkers]

Top notch Alastair!! Some absolutely stunnin pics in there, especially that beautiful wee lochan

[skuk007]

Brilliant report and fabulous photos showing the hills at their best.

The profile of your route looks scary, are you sure you didn't need a rope?

[mountaineagle]

A fine day to do these hills.

Will be thinking about doing these hills soon.

[Alastair S]

The profile of your route looks scary, are you sure you didn't need a rope?

Yes, could have done with legs 20 years younger In retrospect I'd recommend going up & coming back via Coire Dhondail - just as long as you make sure you get over to Loch Coire an Lochain.

[murphy999]

Well done Alistair mate, some great photos there.

[taylorak1]

Great report! Great photographs!

Inspired by your report. and by the views from Sgor Gaoith down to Loch Eanaich. (which we did a few weeks ago.) I did Braeriach and Angel's Peak with my 15 year old son using a similar route up and same route down as you.

Problem was we did this on Sunday 6th May 2012, with lots of snow on top and a fair amount on way up. Very steep and a bit scary on way up. At one point, only the ice axe avoided a very fast descent. Decided to take different route down. Way down not much better. Path full of frozen snow, and very steep. Set off from Whitewell car park on mountain bikes at 09.00. Did not get back to car until after midnight.

I WOULD NOT RECOMENDED THIS ROUTE IN SNOW! (But stunning scenery, and may well use paths up from Gleann Eanaich again for future climbs in summer)

[Merry-walker]

Truly wonderful

[Alastair S]

Thanks Taylor & Merry

I WOULD NOT RECOMENDED THIS ROUTE IN SNOW! (But stunning scenery, and may well use paths up from Gleann Eanaich again for future climbs in summer)

I wouldn't recommend the direct pull up the west side of Braeriach at all (as mentioned earlier).

Both the OS 1:25,000 & the OpenStreetMap show a footpath starting at the ford of the Beanaidh Bheag (NH925028, about 2km north of where the Coire Dhondail path starts). However I don't recall seeing any path there (not that I was looking but I have now done this cycle in twice) and I can't see any evidence of it on Google maps, but even without a path this approach is a lot less steep and is how I'd now do this walk. This route also takes you past Loch Coire an Lochain which looked spectacular when I did it.

I think the views from Braeriach are the best in the Cairngorms and I hope to get back this year, probably using the more usual Lairig Ghru approach that defeated me in March last year (Not Quite Braeriach).

[Gythral]

Great report, and photos!

This has added to my interest in looking into more of the lesser visited parts of the Cairngorms!

[Banditman]

Cracking report. Quality photos as well. I'd love to be able to capture memories like that. Look forward to your next post. Cheers for posting.

[L-Hiking]

Amazing stuff, great pics and wonderful weather.

[Del246]

Great report and truly stunning pictures

[bigkeith]

Great report. Stunning pics, some of the best I've seen. I was initially tempted by your option of biking in and out but my least favourite uphill terrain is steep heathery/grassy slopes with no path and your description pulls no punches. I think I'll take another option. Thanks.