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I guess there can’t be many people (any people even) who get to post two reports on the three “Cairnwell” Munros. Well I can....so here goes with my second report on them
I first did these hills in early April 2011, tail end of winter with a few patches of snow still about. For my second visit though it was time for my two sons to appreciate the delights of their (apparently miserable and grumpy, so they told me

) Dad’s hobby and come out a wee walk. They were up staying with me for the week and I was adamant they would enjoy it.........even if they hated it

So, I managed to wrestle them away from their x-box and get them in the great wide open
Now, I know these three hills, and their six cousins over the road get a bad press, but I actually like them

And from the point of view of keeping my boys happy I thought the prospect of ticking three Munros off their lists in a oner would aid their motivation
Given their teenage and near teenage status it wasn’t an early start though (another good reason for choosing these hills for their introduction!!!!!) and we were suited and booted for a start time of 1.05 p.m.
- Ready to Rock n Roll
Carn Aosda first, following a path under the ski tow. On the summit within 45 minutes, so the boys were pretty pleased with that and still seeming to be keen
- Nearing the top of the climb, before the stroll to the summit
- Munro summit #1
Benjamin (my eldest) was desperate to walk in the cloud and Carn a’Gheoidh was sporting a slight mantle of cloud, which worked to my advantage in getting them to agree to include it in the route
- Rain and cloud on Carn a'Gheoidh
Sadly for my boy, the weather was improving during the afternoon and the cloud was soon all gone from off the summit as we made our way toward it
A pleasant stroll though soon found us on Carn nan Sac, which Benjamin mistakenly mistook for Munro summit number two

He was not chuffed when I explained we were still a little way off

Feet suddenly started to drag and faces looked glum
- Panorama into what I take to be Choire Dhirich
- Joshua posing on route to Carn nan Sac
- Benjamin on Carn nan Sac
Cue the motivational power of the Pizza Hut*
(*other fast food outlets and restaurants are of course available
)So we were back on our way and heading toward Carn a Gheoidh. One patch of rocks gave the boys the chance to muck about for a while, maintaining their interest as we neared the summit.
- Pano of Aosda and the Cairnwell en route to Carn a Gheoidh
- A rocky distraction
- Beinn a’Bhuird and Ben Avon from near the summit
Soon enough we were on the summit of their second Munro
From a views perspective this is probably the best hill of the three, with great views toward Glas Tulaichean, Carn an Righ, Beinn Lutharn Mhor and An Socath, as well as the northern Cairngorms, most notably Beinn a’Bhuird and Ben Avon

Not that these two young boys cared particularly
- Summit view
We also had a small flock of sheep wit us on the summit
- A flock of sheep on the summit
- Munro summit #2
- Carn an Righ
- View to Aosda and Lochnagar in the background
- Lochnagar
Now it was just the matter of the walk back to the Cairnwell.
- The return route
- Choire Dhirich again
On the route out I’d spied a path up and over point 873, so decided we’d give that a go
- Path up to point 873
Unfortunately it had a cairn on it and Benjamin (desperate for his 13 inch stuffed crust meat feast pizza

) tried to convince me we had arrived at Munro summit number 3. I, on the other hand, was having none of it and pointed instead to the delightfully decorated summit of the Cairnwell and explained that that was where we were headed
- Joshua on the final push to summit of the Cairnwell
To be fair, it didn’t take long, although by now my youngest, Joshua, was losing interest I think

We made it to the summit though, but didn’t stay too long. As much as I do like these hills I don’t like that summit
- Munro summit #3
Descent was via the steepish, direct route following the chair lift

The boys certainly enjoyed this final section, as it gave them the chance to slip on their arses a few times

Back at the car in around 4 hours 50 mins, so pleased with that
- Pano heading back down
- At the top of the descent
- Benjamin posing on the way down
- View back up our descent route from near the roadside
All in all though this was a great day

Great to be out on the hills with my boys

Enjoying a bit of bonding
Did they enjoy it? They’re boys, so the best I could manage from them was “It was alright”. I’ll take that as a yes
And for the record Benjamin definitely enjoyed his 13 inch stuffed crust meat feast pizza that evening
