Walkhighlands

WH suggests a time of 11-12 hrs for these two, I took much less than that because of my incredible fitness! Or possibly because I cycled the first 13km and it's been sunny for a few days so the river crossings are easy and the peat hags are baked dry .

First time at the Linn of Dee car park, 2 quid and it's quite busy on a sunny Sunday. They also have some kind of composting toilet. Nice landrover track leads down to the white bridge, crossed over then continued with a plantation on the right. Took a right turn after this and, after another plantation on the right, there are a few stream crossings which are easy given the recent weather. Last crossing is over the Geldie Burn and the track leads on to the Geldie Lodge ruin where I left the bike:


Took an hour and a quarter to cycle the 13km to this point, 130m of ascent so far which isn't really noticeable, but it meant the downhill return cycle was much easier and only took 50 mins. Track becomes a path after the lodge, met another walker later who had continued on the bike for a bit but I went for the easy option of walking from here. Back to the lodge:


Good path from here, green hill ahead is Carn an Fhidhleir.


Path becomes less clear on the way to the the hill, heather & dried up peat to cross then the first real climb of the day. Camera break looking back down:


Joined a path further up that led to the top.


Cairngorms:


Beinn Dearg from the cairn:


Good path leads on from the cairn, Beinn a'Ghlo and Carn a'Chlamain ahead.


Then down to another peat bog which was thankfully dry. I could see a path further up An Sgarsoch so I tried to make out where it started and headed towards that point. Easy when there's good visibility .


Carn an Fhidhleir from the cairn:


There is a path leading down towards Scarsoch Beag but I kept losing it and finding it again. Further down a good path goes around to the left, the direct route would be to go right but there's no path and thick heather.


Then back down and rejoined the outward path back to the lodge.


The return cycle was a downhill breeze, would be a long walk in/out though.

Did this route on Saturday 13th July. As you say conditions couldn't be any better after the warm weather we have been having. The burns could easily be skipped over. Tell you what though, it was still a long sair day in the heat with no bike to help.
Nice TR.