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There are few finer sights in Scotland than the famous Lairig Ghru and the mountains that surround it, except for maybe the Lairig Ghru on a day when the sun shone against all predictions! For the second trip in succession the weatherman's warnings failed to come to fruition. A small token of revenge for all those drenchings received on the hills.
We arrived at Linn O'Dee at 8am and found one of the last remaining spots in the car park, directly under a pine tree. Midgie heaven. So very quickly we suited and booted and headed up the path into Glen Lui, making for Derry Lodge.
Swinging a right just after the lodge, we crossed the new bridge built over the Derry Burn, making an immediate left turn and heading further up Glen Lui.
After brief boggy section the excellent path heads straight up beautiful Glen Luibeg, with Carn A'Mhaim coming into view before the Luibeg Burn has to be forded. (There is a bridge further up the glen if you need it.)
We stopped for first lunch at one of those convenient flat rocks that mother nature so thoughtfully provides for parking your backside on for a bite to eat. Fuelled up and ready to roll we began the assault up the only steep section of the day, rising from around 550m to 950m in jig time. The rewards for the slog are tremendous, at first its the views back down Glen Luibeg that capture your attention then as height is gained, Beinn Bhrotain, Monadh Mor and Derry Cairngorm all come into view.
Finally the good track reaches a flatter section, just underneath the rocky crags that protect the second, lower summit of Carn A'Mhaim. This top is bypassed to the left on bouldery ground, bringing in fantastic views of the The Devils Point, Gleann Geusachean and as we looked up Lairig Ghru/Glen Dee the cloud began clearing the tops of Cairn Toull and Braeriach.
From here the true summit is short, easy walk along the ridge and is guarded by one or two little tors.
As we sat down for a drink of juice and a second bit to eat, the wispy cloud lifted from every summit. So many of the famous Cairngorm peaks clearing. Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toull, Derry Cairngorm, The Devil's Point even Beinn Mheadhoin and it's proper, full sized, tors were visible. The vista was stunning, my limited photography skills on an iPhone, not really doing it justice.
We then wandered over to the lower top and still the views held, from here it is much easier to see one of the few narrow ridges in The Gorms between Carn A'Mhaim and mighty Ben Macdui.
After nearly an hour spent at each of the summits, enjoying the warmth and stupendous views. Views that made you feel tiny and insignificant. We retraced our steps, all the way back up past the lodge and back to the Linn O'Dee car park having enjoyed a much, much better day than expected. Here's hoping my luck holds!
