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Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 4:07 pm
by mamoset

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We had decided a while back, that the best way for us Englanders to get round the central Cairngorm Munros was to wild camp. So, with a favourable two day forecast, we headed for Linn of Dee at the usual ungodly hour and left the car by 9 o'clock. Blue skies and warmth abounded, but the strong wind was evident. It's a pleasant walk up Glen Lui to Derry Lodge before we veered off up Glen Derry.
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Derry Cairngorm, will be No. 4 later today!!
We had planned to split up in Glen Derry, with me going up Beinn Bhreac & Beinn a' Chaorainn on my own. I missed the path by the last burn as we were busy gabbing :lol: :crazy: so, it was straight up and over the heathery hillside leading under West Top and on to Beinn Bhreac itself.
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Up Glen Derry to Derry Cairngorm & Beinn Mheadhoin.
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Cairn Toul comes into view on the ascent of Beinn Bhreac.
As I approached the summit of Beinn Bhreac, a lovely male Dotterel started acting up in front of me and I soon spotted why; he had two small chicks with him. I resisted the temptation to get too close and got a quick pic of him.
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Dotterel.
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Beinn Bhreac.
Due to the strength of the wind, I only stayed a short while before heading for the dreaded Moine Bhealaidh!!!!
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Beinn a' Chaorainn across Moine Bhealaidh.
Anyway, it was really easy to get across, reasonable path for the most part, couple of minor boggy bits, and so I was soon heading up Beinn a' Chaorainn into an ever increasing wind. :o I had intended to go to the Munro Top, but walking was quite difficult at this point so I shelved that plan and made straight for the main summit :lol:
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Beinn a' Chaorainn.
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Cairn Gorm from Chaorainn summit.
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Stob Coire Sputan Dearg to Ben Macdui.
There didn't appear to be an "easy" way down to Lairig an Laoigh, so I followed the shoulder of B a' C until it looked steep but easy enough to get to level ground :D Once there, I had some food then skirted Stob Coire Etchachan to meet the path up to the Hutchison Memorial Hut.
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Hutchison Memorial Hut in Coire Etchachan.
I followed the path up to Loch Etchachan, were I located my mates rucksack. I left mine with it, then took the path up to Beinn Mheadhoin.
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Loch Etchachan from ascent of Beinn Mheadhoin.
Met a few walkers on my way up who alluded to the strength of the wind on the top, but once up there, I figured they were playing it down, it was ferocious!! :shock:
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Summit tors.
Being a bit older, and therefore wiser, I decided not to stand on the summit, but climbed up to it and managed to one hand my camera into the following picture :?
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Beinn Mheadhoin.
Now, I am sure the purists among you will say I should have stood up there, and if I'm ever this way again, I will, I promise!! :thumbup: Anyway, I didn't stay long and having met up at the bags and had a bit of a refuel, Derry Cairngorm was our next destination. As we began the ascent of Derry Cairngorm, it was notable that the wind was beginning to drop off, which made walking a bit more pleasurable.
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Looking back to Beinn Mheadhoin ascent route.
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Route up Derry Cairngorm, Beinn a' Ghlo in background.
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Helicopter cloud over Cairn Toul!!
This is a fairly shallow ascent and soon enough we were at the summit.
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Derry Cairngorm.
It was turning into a pleasant enough evening, so after re-joining the Macdui path, we passed what was our intended bivvy spot near the small lochan behind Coire Sputan Dearg, and headed for Ben Macdui.
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Cairn Gorm, Beinn Mheadhoin, Bynack More & Beinn a' Chaorainn.
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Derry Cairngorm across Coire Sputan Dearg.
By the time we reached the summit, the wind had died completely and it was a really pleasant evening.
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Ben Macdui.
There is a ruin marked on the map, probably only 10 metres descent from the summit, and this looked fine for sleeping in. Turns out it was :lol: so after a very satisfying, if difficult at times, day, we bedded down.
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Macdui Hilton.
The beauty of camping this high, is it's nearly all down hill tomorrow :thumbup: :lol:
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The ruin (next morning).
Day 2 to follow!!!

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 8:18 pm
by rockhopper
Enjoyed that - and day 2 just topped it off :thumbup: - cheers :)

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:39 am
by mamoset
Hi rh, just glad the wind died down or it might have been a looong night!!! :lol:

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:35 am
by BlackPanther
I always wanted to wildcamp in the Cairngorms, but somehow we managed all M's there in day trips... Will have to come back with a tent one day just to see the sunrise over the plateau...

We were overnighting in the Fisherfields the very same night, at last some summer weather :D

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 10:42 am
by jmarkb
Great report - and a fine place to kip out! This may be of interest: http://theuplandofmar.squarespace.com/sappers-bothy/.

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:49 pm
by mamoset
BlackPanther wrote:I always wanted to wildcamp in the Cairngorms, but somehow we managed all M's there in day trips... Will have to come back with a tent one day just to see the sunrise over the plateau...

We were overnighting in the Fisherfields the very same night, at last some summer weather :D

Hi BP, not seen a report on that one, was it a wild camp?

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:50 pm
by mamoset
jmarkb wrote:Great report - and a fine place to kip out! This may be of interest: http://theuplandofmar.squarespace.com/sappers-bothy/.

Thanks jmark, useful bit of info in that article, plenty more to read as well, when I find the time :lol:

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:52 pm
by BlackPanther
mamoset wrote:Hi BP, not seen a report on that one, was it a wild camp?


I'm currently in the process of writing - should post it tomorrow :D We wildcamped near Canmore bothy. This is the view we had from our tent:
Image

Re: Wild camp after a wild day in Cairngorms.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 5:25 pm
by mamoset
Got to say, that looks a real nice camping spot :thumbup: :D