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This was our first outing after the Skye soaking which was almost 2 weeks ago, George was unavailable so it was just myself and Parminder. The original idea was to head out 4 days earlier but the forecast was anything but walker friendly, 40mph winds and some wet stuff so we settled on Friday.
Parminder kindly offered to drive and as we were Cairngorms bound bikes were the order of the day. Parminder has a Beemer saloon (with a real boot) so squishing one bike inside is challenging and 2 bikes would be interesting. Not a problem as Parminder had acquired a contraption that is attached on top of and to the rear of the boot. Parminder pitched up at my house with the contraption in place and his bike already strapped on, I was expecting to squish my bike into the back so had already removed the front wheel. So it was a quick job to reattach the wheel and then fasten my bike onto the rear and coupled up with Parminders.
So off we set, as this was the first time the contraption had been tested we were both a bit apprehensive, there was a bit of excessive wind noise when 70mph was reached but apart from that, it worked a treat.
We arrived at Linn of Dee car park and were on our bikes just before 8.30. the weather was ideal a slight breeze (to keep the hungry insect population away) and we had already agreed to dump the bikes at Derry Lodge after passing 2 groups of walkers who opted to walk. As far as I am concerned a 20 minute cycle is just slightly better than a 1 hour walk, especially when you factor in the return trip!!
Parminder was familiar with the first part of the route as we would be heading along the same route we took for the Braeriach Traverse. I was familiar with Carn a'Mhaim & Macdui route as they were numbers 199 & 200 first time around, Derry Cairngorm seemed an obvious addition this time as it was almost on the way back to Derry Lodge, just a slight detour of a few hundred metres of ascent or so.
Off we go, a few vehicles were already in the car park
Taken whilst freewheeling, great track to Derry Lodge
Further along the track
Nearing Derry Lodge
We discussed where to dump/abandon the bikes whilst in the car and we both agreed rather than struggle across the boggy bit on the other side of the bridge, we would leave them at the lodge. As it turned out the boggy bit was very dry, but we still made the correct decision as the track after that is for 'real' cyclists and we would spend more time off the bike than on it.
So bikes were parked and chained together and the walking would begin.
I will give a mention to couple of guys (presumably from the west), we passed them whilst they were walking to Derry Lodge, we met them on the summit of Macdui and had a brief chat. I think they have been converted to utilising wheels next time they start from the Linn of Dee. They would follow us up and then down Derry Cairngorm.
The temporary bridge
The way ahead
Our first target
Luibeg Bridge
The Luibeg, not a raging torrent
Downstream
Snap
Looking back towards Derry Lodge
Who could this be following me?
First peek of where we were a few months ago, Devils Point and co
Devils Point again
Early view of Ben Macdui
Summit cairn of Carn a'Mhaim just appearing
Macdui on the right and Braeriach on the left, 2nd & 3rd highest hills in the UK
Devils Point & Cairn Toul
Looking down on Corrour Bothy, the next photo will make it easy to spot
Bothy zoomed - quite a bit
The way down the ridge off Carn a'Mhaim
Looking across Glen Dee
Devils Point from further along the ridge
Next bit of the ridge with Braeriach in the distance
Corrour Bothy again
Reaching the end of the ridge off Carn a'Mhaim before starting the ascent up Macdui
Looking back to Carn a'Mhaim, with someone ruining a good photo
Devils Point with a shower in the glen
Great shot of Carn a'Mhaim
Bit of cloud now covering the monsters on the other side of the glen
Typical boulder field in this vicinity
Last shot of Devils Point, weather changing slightly
Refuel spot for us, lovely clear water
Ruin
Interior of the ruin
Macdui trig
Just like my last visit to Macdui, the summit plateau was littered with fellow walkers and we had hardly seen a soul all day. Most of the numerous shelters on the plateau had folk either eating or drinking inside them. We had a brief chat with the 2 guys we passed earlier, took a few photo's and set off on our way.
A photo that kind of demonstrates how many shelters there are
Our final target Derry Cairngorm
The way ahead
Derry Cairngorm from Narrow Gully
Way ahead
Prepared to be shocked - Parminder was leading the way, I had stopped to put my jacket on whilst a shower passed through and opted to be brave
Looking back and across to Narrow Gully
Summit cairn on Derry Cairngorm
Lochan Uaine
Parminder revelling in being the leader
A few shots during the descent off Derry Cairngorm looking down on Glen Derry, burn looks rather dry
Looking out towards the Linn of Dee in the very far distance
That concludes another great day out, weather turned out much better than forecast. A huge thanks to Parminder for driving and for his usual great company. The Cairngorms is a magical place and never disappoints.
