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Got to the car park just before 9am, plenty of spaces at that time but it was full when I got back (around half 4) so it gets busy even on weekdays during the summer. £3 charge but they've got toilets & a wee tourist info hut.
Past these buildings & through a gate (loads of signs to keep dogs on leads here which were mainly ignored) then there are 2 paths signposted Lochnagar.
Took the one on the right to follow WH route, heads towards buildings & trees:
Path leads through trees.
Then follow landrover track:
Big cairn on the track marks the point of departure onto a path leading up to a bealach between the Lochnagar crags and Meikle Pap.
Path was fairly busy, most walkers were doing Meikle Pap too so I wandered up. Slight scramble at the top.
Good view of Lochnagar from here.
And the path leading round the cliffs.
Back to the bealach and a steep uphill slog, good view of the walk up to here though:
Path continues to the big cairn:
Big cairn:
Down to Meikle Pap:
Next hill on the list, the Stuic:
Cliffs:
The other walker here had scrambled up the crags before, looks like fun but could be tricky finding a route.
On to the Stuic & Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach.
Lochnagar from the Stuic:
And Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach, Munro number 2.
Lochnagar from Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach:
Next Munro, Carn an t-Sagairt. These 2 are a bit of a come down after Lochnagar, just grassy hills without much ascent. There's a path between them but it doesn't lead to the summits, it's easy terrain though.
Carn an t-Sagairt cairn, there are 2 cairns here but this one's got more decoration. The walk to Lochnagar had been pretty busy but noone seemed to be doing the round. Met a few walkers here though, they had come up from Callater. One knew where the plane wreckage was, had a look at the bits west of the cairns but there's more spread around the top.
Both airmen were killed when the reconnaissance Canberra jet hit the hill, apparently it was a clear night and no reason has been found for the crash.
Faint path to the next 2: Cairn Bannoch then Broad Cairn.
Cairn Bannoch, both these hills are a bit bouldery near the top which makes a welcome change after the grassy paths.
Next, Broad cairn:
Loch Muick from Broad Cairn, the walk back:
Again, bouldery at the summit but there's a path that gets further along, then joins a landrover track. It's a long, flat walk back so I was glad I had shoes rather than boots on.
Enjoyable walk back on a good track, a few mountain bikers here. Path was busy with walkers doing Broad Cairn and wandering around the loch. Lodge on the other side:
Sandy beaches:
Soon back at the car park which was now very busy, good news for the midges
