Walkhighlands

Colin and Jura were allowing me to join them on another adventure, so we all few up the A9 and arrived at the Reindeer Centre far quicker than expected – it pays to get an early start ahead of the caravans

There were a few midges around despite there being a distinct chill in the air – summer is definitely drawing to a close. We were quickly ready to go and set off up the track immediately behind the buildings. We briefly took a wrong turn before realising we were supposed to be going uphill It’s always the starts of walks isn’t it…

Me leading the way


Soon we were out of the woods and the views were opening out.




The path was well made and easy underfoot which made the gradient less painfull

Meall a’ Buachaille


Looking backwards towards the Cairngorm Massif


Loch Morlich

We soon gained the ridge and met a couple of folk coming back down – early birds It was a quick and easy stroll to the top of Meall a’ Buachaille and we could hardly believe we were already at the summit of our first target!

Cairnaggedon


Out towards Braemar and Morrone


Jura doing a summit pose (needs work )


Loch Morlich Braeriach and Sgor Gaoith behind


Jaxter pose


Cairn Gorm and Bynack More behind


Surveying the road ahead


After enjoying the sights for a bit we headed off. It was an obvious path initially until we came to a split. I wanted to have a peek at Ryvoan Bothy and Colin said he didn’t mind so we took the left fork which, according to the map, ought to bring us out there. However this path totally disappeared and we ended up wading through heather and deep grass. We went of Straight Line Syndrome and just battered on down.

The long and winding road onwards


Ryvoan coming into view


Eventually we saw a very obvious path, snaking around and heading to Ryvoan….taking a sort of diagonal line we joined up with it and walked the last few metres to the bothy.


There was a stack of bags outside and Duke of Edinburgh log sheets. It must have been a cosy night in the bothy

We followed the track before realising it was a long way round and took a shortcut through a jungle (I blame Colin ) and emerging on the long and winding road as seen from above. It was an easy walk and we were smashing the miles as we chatted about all manner of nonsense

The path led us up onto the shoulder that led to Bynack More itself before taking the left fork and heading back downhill into the glen. We reached the corrie of the barns and crossed the Glasath which was a good opportunity to refill water bottles.


We continued along the path a few metres more until we were past the steepest section before heading directly uphill. It was a mercifully short and painless ascent and before long we were on the final pull to the summit of Creag Mhor.


Looking backwards to the Barns of Bynack


The way we’d come


Me spoiling the view


We reached the summit…well I got there first….


Then Colin and Jura


We sat down in a sheltered spot for some food, a discussion about where to go next (“Wanna go over Bynack More for funsies?” “Aye ok” ) and some photos.

Bynack More


Colin & Jura


Ben Avon


These appear to be the crags above Glen Loin but I’ve no idea what they are Impressive though….


Cairn Gorm and the Shelter Stone crags


Panorama shot from Creag Mhor summit – Ben Avon to Cairn Gorm


Cairn Gorm and the Shelter Stone crags


Zoomed crags


The Barns of Bynack


Me taking photos


Cairn Gorm


“I could see if someone was having a pee on that crag”


Think this is looking towards Coire Etchachan and Derry Cairngorm


As we munched on our food Colin remembered Spiderwebb saying he was heading for Bynack More….so he called him and would you believe it, he was just approaching the summit! We waved at him and I used my super-duper-lens to get a photo

Spiderwebb on Bynack More summit


After chilling out a bit longer we got going again, retracing our steps down the side of boggy Creag Mhor before heading straight up Bynack, heading for the barns where I knew that the gradient eased. This is one of the things I like about Colin…he’s happy to go along with my mad plans (or at least he doesn’t complain, wise man )

It was steep going but slow and steady saw us gaining height quickly. Stopping for a breather, the views down Glen Derry were pretty.


Colin stopping for a photo in front of Beinn a’ Chaorainn


Our previous summit, Creag Mhor and Ben Avon


We arrived at the barns…I’d forgotten how big they were and why I’d not managed to climb to the top in January

How big? This big








Beinn a’ Chaorainn, Glen Derry and Beinn Mheadhoin


From the barns it was an easy stroll to the summit of Bynack More….here’s Colin trying not to look tired


We arrived at the summit to discover that Spider had left…hardly surprising as it had been an hour since we’d spoken It was pretty windy so added layers before posing commenced


Jura missed the memo


Meall a’ Buachaille – looks a long way away


The Cairngorm Massif

Panorama shot


Glen Derry


Beinn Mheadhoin


Shelter Stone crags, less impressive from this angle


Cairn Gorm I think


Jura


It was an easy but long walk from here so off we went, thinking we might catch the Spider on the way… Colin decided that this rock looked like a whale


Once we were down the steep top of Bynack More it was just a case of covering the distance….Looking back:


Looking down Strath Nethy


Meall a’ Buachaille ahead


River Nethy


Finally on the home straight


A quick pause at An Lochan Uaine


From here it was a case of dodging the bikers and the long last few miles to the car. We never did catch Spider Once on the road it was a case of getting on with it; we were tired and had sore feet Eventually we were back at the car and we figured that it was such a nice day that an ice cream stop in Aviemore was a necessity before the drive home

Good report as usual nice weather too. Which I am starting to seriously miss

A few things;

Derry Cairngorm looks very majestic in the late summer(??) sun

Love the Scots Pines.special trees for me

And Colin's 'Jaxter' is almost poetic in its execution.Craig Revel Horwood would give a '9'.surely.

Brilliant as always Jaxter I'm always happy to go on your mad hatter detours as long as there is sufficient daylight Andymac75 I wouldn't dare try the Jaxter pose or I don't think I would ever walk straight again And that Jaxter Lass just a wee bit younger and way more bendy than ever will be

They seek him here., they seek home there I think you need a telescope other folk must have thought I was nuts scanning all over trying to work out where you guys were.... Map to the rescue as stuff round them parts is mostly large, so it didn't take long to work it out but I still didn't see you guys

Fabulous walk taking in 3 interesting hills but for showing off the blooming heather I think the prize has to go to the Shepherd's hill!

Looks like fun, as always. The "Barns" are quite impressive.

As often, you appear to have added an extra peak or two to the obvious itinerary most of us would have chosen!

Andymac75 wrote:Good report as usual nice weather too. Which I am starting to seriously miss

A few things;

Derry Cairngorm looks very majestic in the late summer(??) sun

Love the Scots Pines.special trees for me

And Colin's 'Jaxter' is almost poetic in its execution.Craig Revel Horwood would give a '9'.surely.

Thankyou - think it may have been the last of summer Cairngorms glens are definitely growing on me

tall-story wrote:Brilliant as always Jaxter I'm always happy to go on your mad hatter detours as long as there is sufficient daylight Andymac75 I wouldn't dare try the Jaxter pose or I don't think I would ever walk straight again And that Jaxter Lass just a wee bit younger and way more bendy than ever will be

just plenty of practise falling off things
Daylight? Pffft that's what head torches are for

spiderwebb wrote:They seek him here., they seek home there I think you need a telescope other folk must have thought I was nuts scanning all over trying to work out where you guys were.... Map to the rescue as stuff round them parts is mostly large, so it didn't take long to work it out but I still didn't see you guys

Yeah it's a fair panorama from there right enough that Creag Mhor wasn't visible until we were over the hump of Bynack so probably easy to miss! You must've fair motored on your way doon

dogplodder wrote:Fabulous walk taking in 3 interesting hills but for showing off the blooming heather I think the prize has to go to the Shepherd's hill!

Definitely! Very pretty to look at but nightmare to wade through

Mal Grey wrote:Looks like fun, as always. The "Barns" are quite impressive.

As often, you appear to have added an extra peak or two to the obvious itinerary most of us would have chosen!

They're awesome aren't they! I was introduced to them in January when I was there. Could spend hours playing! Ach if it's a nice day it seems a shame to go home