Walkhighlands

This is back dated a bit as we completed the walk on the 18th of October but what the hell.

On a bitterly cold Saturday morning we departed from the Glen Muick car park around 10am and headed off on our way along the land-rover path, past the estate lodges and through the woods before walking the bumpy footpath towards Meikle Pap. The pathway looked as though it had recently been upgraded but due to heavy rainfall parts were falling away and it was quite bumpy in places. This was my 3rd Munro in as many weeks and I found it much more challenging than the previous two(Dreish and Mayer). Upon reaching the foot of Meikle Pap we stopped for a break before climbing "the ladder", this was quite a struggle in places as the wind was inreasing in force and decreasing in temperature as we climbed.

Upon reaching the top of the ladder we walked along the edge of the corrie, along Cac Carn Mor (1150m) before reaching the summit, Cac Carn Beag (1155m). Sat at the trig point for lunch and photos (to be posted soon) it was not long before the hoards caught up and before we knew it there were a dozen foreign students (complete with jeans and trainers) swarming around.

We set off down towards Loch Muick, taking the donkey path east. This was a fairly easy path to walk, although rocky in places. We walked for around an hour and a half and stopped by the waterfall for pictures before setting off back down the path towards the loch. Upon joining with the path that surrounds the loch we were left with a long walk back to the car park which was a bit of a dampner after such a great day out.

Next time I do this I will be making plans for an alternative route back to the car park and away from the tourists.

why didnt you carry on to the next munro Carn a Choire Bhoidheach then down the path to below Carn an t-Sagairt mor up to the summit- back to path......then either follow route path down toward the Dubh Loch or ...just carry on and do the other two munros Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn ....EASY .... 5 munos..32 kilometres..seems a long way but my god youre 25 and im 45 wish i woz 25 ....im ranting again....in the bag and you will prob never see the same person twice.......we are really fit(in my humble opinion) and completed the walk the other way withBroad Cairn first and lochnagar last in 6 hours 30 mins inc lunch ...water and pee stops

once your up there its madness to go back unless its really foul weather ...like what happened the first time i went earlier in july ..VIZ was about 10 ft the whole way to lochnagar myself midweek..met a couple o guys on the summit... map in hand was just visible too ...ha ha pic below was from 6ft and already im disappearing into the mist

cheerz
wait for a good clear spell and set off from carpark around the 8am time that gives you 8 solid good light hours and really once you get on to track its no navigation from wee hut on track all the way back to your car
doogz

I would have done that but I was with my old man who was struggling for fitness - It would certianly be on my to do list next time I head up (which could be sooner rather than later).

sounds like a good hike a bit out of my range the now but hopefully no for long il stick to the busy tourist routes until a get more experience

Some of the pictures from my last trip up Lochnagar

Some good ones there - the one looking down the Black Spout gully is the best. It looks like it was cloudy on every other hill all around and clear for you on Lochnagar

I have about 50 pics from when I was up there but thats just a selection of my fav ones. I'm going back this Sat so I will post more soon, hopefully the forecast is right as I imagine snow upi there will only add to the appeal.

weather forecast ..heavy snow for saturday...be careful...take all yer new gear and some extra in your bag...just in case!!!

have a gr8 day

we are off to laggan on fri ...mibbye out east on sunday and somewhere ..????? on tuesday ...so should get past the halfway marker and make it over the 120 munros in 2008

Doogz