Walkhighlands

22 degrees C on the car on the way home. Really didn't think that Braemar did 20s (except minus 20s). Definitely our warmest day in the Cairngorms and possibly the warmest we've ever been on a mountain but no complaints at all.

Set off from Linn of Dee carpark for the mountain bike journey to Derry Lodge (quicker than last week too although saying that, we couldn't really have gotten any slower).

After reading other WH User reports we decided to leave the bikes a short distance from Derry Lodge on the path to the east of Derry Burn.

Initially missed the path of to the right because we weren't concentrating. A teensy bit of retracing and we were back en route again. We found that this path was pretty boggy and it remained so until we were well over halfway up Meall Lunndain where it quickly became tinderbox dry and that made for much easier walking.

Continuing our ascent towards Beinn Bhreac we found ourselves striking out for the smaller western summit rather than the correct and easterly summit of 931m and as a result we ended up taking the summit in a wide arc to correct our mistake. Posed for the necessary "summit piccies" and given that it was rather breezy we descended to a more sheltered spot on the NE side for lunch.

After refueling we were ready for the expansive Moine Bhealaidh. It was a long trek (as stated in the WH route) and thanks to the WH route plus User reports we were able to avoid the peat hags and potential bogfest. Can imagine that this part of the walk must feel endless in inclement weather and grim too given that it was very exposed but in fine ether it was a nice break in between ascents.

Reaching Beinn a Chaorainn we plumped for the greyish looking stony SE shoulder and disturbed a couple of ptarmigan with our puffy and blowy ascent. The summit cairn was a welcome sight and the views were every bit as grand as promised. Went a little bit overboard at this point with the photos but we really wanted to make the most of such fantastic views.

After an apple and drink break we picked our way SW through the boulder field to where the mountain seemed to end abruptly with a near vertical drop to the valley floor. At this point the descent was pretty much vertical and we scooched down the steep side in a decidedly uncool and ungainly fashion through screeish rocks and grass that offered very little anchorage.

We carefully continued in this manner until the Lairig an Laoigh path was reached. To be honest the descent felt like more of an achievement than the two Munros!

Picked up the path and took the opportunity to empty the 1lb or o of heather and stones from our boots.

The heat on the valley floor was incredible; just like high summer and it made for a very pleasant walk back down Lairig an Laoigh towards beautiful Glen Derry.

Glas Allt Mor didn't pose any problems and crossing was quite straightforward at the point where the path met the burn. We've certainly crossed (and fell in) more challenging burns .


In no time we were back at the point were we'd left the bikes. We didn't follow the instructions to cross the little metal bridge over Derry Burn but stayed on the ascending (sigh) path so that we could collect the bikes without having to backtrack.

From then on it was a wheely nice bike (apologies) all the way back to the carpark. Very glad of the bikes at this point.

Walked/biked in 7hours 15mins and a total of 19miles. Walked by Sarah (52nd and 53rd) and David (52nd and 53rd)

Another fine report and fun as always. Grt pics. Thanks