Total Solitude in the Cairngorms
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:07 pmThis was one of those exiting days in your lives when you think this is it!! At last I am going to be able to venture onto the Cairngorm Plateau. Don’t really know what I am getting excited about after all I am only 56 years young! 
The forecast for the Cairngorms was good with 80% chance of clear Munro tops, which was in stark contrast to the weather further south where the North of England and South of Scotland were suffering flash floods.
Arrived at the Ski Centre car park at around 9.30am and there was already lots of cars here with a coach party of similar aged people wandering about with cameras after just departing the Lochs and Glens Tour Coach. Oh eck let me get going quick I am not ready to join that trip yet!
From the car park there are some steps which drop down a little in front of you and then joins a clear path which heads roughly in a westerly direction.
The day was clear and there was a clear view ahead and all around the view towards Meall a Bhuachallie was especially picturesque and depending on how my old aching legs were after today could be the objective for tomorrow.
The route is quite a steady climb where the accent is not really noticeable, but what a lovely place as we approached the Alt Coire an t Sneachda the cliffs of the same name come into view they are without doubt very impressive with snow was still lying in many of the Northern most gully’s. Now this would be a good place for all those Lochs and Glen’s cameras, much better than the visitor centre.
.
Further up as we climbed a young girl passed at speed and I was pretty envious of the ease and grace in which she travelled, strangely as we levelled out near Coire an Lochain she veered off the path and appeared to be looking for something, with use of her map and what looked like a GPS. I watched at a distance to see what she was doing but as I did so I felt that the young lady did not appreciate being observed so we went on our way. I wonder if this is the new craze called Geo-Caching and she was looking for buried treasure and I had missed an opportunity to find a pot of gold. Anyway after a few circles of the area she headed back down towards the Ski centre.
My walk yesterday had allowed me my first view of the mighty Breariach and this time she came into view again oh what a mountain so majestic. I am lucky to be here and there peeping alongside Breariach was Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Cairn Toul. I pointed these out to my wife Carol who looked at me and said you are kidding me NO WAY!!
I had a laugh to myself and had to explain that that was not our objective for today, but she never believes me, as so often on reaching a peak I say lets go and knock that one off it’s only over there!!
The temperature had dropped as we travelled and increased our elevation and indeed were met with some of that lovely midsummer hail and we sheltered behind some boulders and had a coffee taking in the views across the Lairig Ghru.
Revitalised and refreshed the snow storm now well on its way we again climbed steadily reaching a high point with the slopes of MacDui ahead in the distance. We descended and passed a small lochan which I think is close to where the disaster in 1971 happened (I think) and again climbed towards a boulder field which we negotiated with care.
Eventually reaching the summit and my second Munro of the week and again there was not a sole around it was so quite the views were stunning all around. Take your pick of the wind shelters up here there are so many and I can imagine what it must be like in school holidays..Not today though ...Just Bliss!
I wandered away from the shelter as I wanted to glimpse the view of the River Dee and the Devils Point, I was not disappointed and again was blessed with a wonderful panorama. Oh I have to come back here but I think with my tent next time and pitch close to Courror Bothy.
So sadly it was time to leave and retrace our steps to Lochan Buidhe and then veer right again on a clear path towards our final objective of the day Cairn Gorm passing the impressive cliffs of Stob Coire an t Sneachda along the way It looks a long way from here
The path is clear and easy to follow however I do appreciate what a dangerous place this can be if the mist or the weather turned nasty up here so constantly taking a compass bearing just in case, as it was I didn’t need it and I think that the Highlands didn’t mind an Englishman enjoying their glory and beauty of Scotland today.
The legs were tiring a little now but the final objective was in sight and a quick look with the binoculars showed that there was lots of activity up on the summit of Cairn Gorm. At this point in the day we had not seen or spoken to a single person. That was soon to change as we passed and exchanged pleasantries with many groups and individuals on the final stretch.
We reached the summit of Cairn Gorm and again the views were stunning although it was hard to take any clear shots with all the people milling around up here. I couldn’t help notice one couple inadequately dressed in jeans and flimsy tops with no fluid. Oh Dear! Not for me to remind them of the dangers and rapid change of weather conditions.
From here it was just a walk towards the cafe below on what is an excellent path way but I am not sure that it does the mountains character any favours. On entering the building we were asked to sign in which I thought strange, but now understand why after speaking to one of the waitresses in the cafe. No one is allowed out of the door onto the mountain when travelling up by the railway.
After the coffee we decide to be tourists and travelled back down the final part of the walk to the car park on the train. Tired but pleased with our efforts.
The forecast for the Cairngorms was good with 80% chance of clear Munro tops, which was in stark contrast to the weather further south where the North of England and South of Scotland were suffering flash floods.
Arrived at the Ski Centre car park at around 9.30am and there was already lots of cars here with a coach party of similar aged people wandering about with cameras after just departing the Lochs and Glens Tour Coach. Oh eck let me get going quick I am not ready to join that trip yet!
From the car park there are some steps which drop down a little in front of you and then joins a clear path which heads roughly in a westerly direction.
- Initial track from Ski centre
The day was clear and there was a clear view ahead and all around the view towards Meall a Bhuachallie was especially picturesque and depending on how my old aching legs were after today could be the objective for tomorrow.
- Meall a Beauchallie
The route is quite a steady climb where the accent is not really noticeable, but what a lovely place as we approached the Alt Coire an t Sneachda the cliffs of the same name come into view they are without doubt very impressive with snow was still lying in many of the Northern most gully’s. Now this would be a good place for all those Lochs and Glen’s cameras, much better than the visitor centre.
.
- Alt Coire a t Sneachda
- Looking back to Ski Centre
Further up as we climbed a young girl passed at speed and I was pretty envious of the ease and grace in which she travelled, strangely as we levelled out near Coire an Lochain she veered off the path and appeared to be looking for something, with use of her map and what looked like a GPS. I watched at a distance to see what she was doing but as I did so I felt that the young lady did not appreciate being observed so we went on our way. I wonder if this is the new craze called Geo-Caching and she was looking for buried treasure and I had missed an opportunity to find a pot of gold. Anyway after a few circles of the area she headed back down towards the Ski centre.
My walk yesterday had allowed me my first view of the mighty Breariach and this time she came into view again oh what a mountain so majestic. I am lucky to be here and there peeping alongside Breariach was Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Cairn Toul. I pointed these out to my wife Carol who looked at me and said you are kidding me NO WAY!!
I had a laugh to myself and had to explain that that was not our objective for today, but she never believes me, as so often on reaching a peak I say lets go and knock that one off it’s only over there!!
The temperature had dropped as we travelled and increased our elevation and indeed were met with some of that lovely midsummer hail and we sheltered behind some boulders and had a coffee taking in the views across the Lairig Ghru.
Revitalised and refreshed the snow storm now well on its way we again climbed steadily reaching a high point with the slopes of MacDui ahead in the distance. We descended and passed a small lochan which I think is close to where the disaster in 1971 happened (I think) and again climbed towards a boulder field which we negotiated with care.
- Boulder Field
Eventually reaching the summit and my second Munro of the week and again there was not a sole around it was so quite the views were stunning all around. Take your pick of the wind shelters up here there are so many and I can imagine what it must be like in school holidays..Not today though ...Just Bliss!
- Carol locating a wind free shelter
- Lochnager
- Cairn Gorm
I wandered away from the shelter as I wanted to glimpse the view of the River Dee and the Devils Point, I was not disappointed and again was blessed with a wonderful panorama. Oh I have to come back here but I think with my tent next time and pitch close to Courror Bothy.
- The River Dee
- Majestic Mountains
So sadly it was time to leave and retrace our steps to Lochan Buidhe and then veer right again on a clear path towards our final objective of the day Cairn Gorm passing the impressive cliffs of Stob Coire an t Sneachda along the way It looks a long way from here
- Cairn Gorm our objective
- Snow in Mid June
The path is clear and easy to follow however I do appreciate what a dangerous place this can be if the mist or the weather turned nasty up here so constantly taking a compass bearing just in case, as it was I didn’t need it and I think that the Highlands didn’t mind an Englishman enjoying their glory and beauty of Scotland today.
- Beinn Mheadhoin ( I think)
- Meall a Beauchallie
The legs were tiring a little now but the final objective was in sight and a quick look with the binoculars showed that there was lots of activity up on the summit of Cairn Gorm. At this point in the day we had not seen or spoken to a single person. That was soon to change as we passed and exchanged pleasantries with many groups and individuals on the final stretch.
- Getting Closer
- Ant Like People
We reached the summit of Cairn Gorm and again the views were stunning although it was hard to take any clear shots with all the people milling around up here. I couldn’t help notice one couple inadequately dressed in jeans and flimsy tops with no fluid. Oh Dear! Not for me to remind them of the dangers and rapid change of weather conditions.
- Cracked it!!
- Ben Rinnes
From here it was just a walk towards the cafe below on what is an excellent path way but I am not sure that it does the mountains character any favours. On entering the building we were asked to sign in which I thought strange, but now understand why after speaking to one of the waitresses in the cafe. No one is allowed out of the door onto the mountain when travelling up by the railway.
After the coffee we decide to be tourists and travelled back down the final part of the walk to the car park on the train. Tired but pleased with our efforts.
....I'll bet your Mrs would agree with me 
