Derry Cairngorm and Beinn Mheadhoin

[soapy27]

As i promised i would be back to do these in the near future with the forecast looking good today was that day. I left the car park at 830 on foot this time (no bike) as was needing a long day walking to get fit for doing the West Highland Way in may and a good 20 miler was sure to do the trick.The trip to Derry Lodge took about an hour of easy walking along the landrover track where we met 4 mountain rescue landrovers looks like they were on a training excercise.
After crosing the bridge it was a steady climb up the hill towards Derry Cairngorm through the pines ,wanted to have the long walk out at the end oppose to a long walk in (which i was glad as my feet were feeling it at around the 14mile mark and the boulder field on DC would have been hard going ).We arrived at the summit of Derry Cairngorm in 3 hours from the car with the wind very gusty so we thought we'll head down a bit for our lunch at Loch Etchachan (probably the most stunning place ive ever sat and had my piece to date.
Looking up from the bealach the climb up Beinn Mheadhoin looked a steep relentless slog but once onto to it as always wasnt as bad as initially thought and soon levelled off to a nice final ascent up to the tors which look even bigger in real life .The climb up the summit tor was quite simple aswell even the dog (Archie) made it right up but we were greeted at the top by what can only be described as ferocious wind so we didnt hang around for to long. Now we had a long trip back to the car we thought maybe 2 hours from here haha it was more like 3.5 hours but very enjoyable along a great path not to steep and the sun was out the whole time apart from a 5 minute squally shower. 9 hours after leavin the car we arrived back at the car totally spent my legs felt like lead but all worth it on another amazing day in the Cairngorms

Looking doown Glen Lui

Cornice looking over Glen Derry

Panoramic Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm

Cairn Toul and Ben Macdui

Bein Mheadhoitn from Derry Cairgorm

Ben Macdui and Cairn Toul

Panoramic from Derry Cairngorm

Ben Macdui

Loch Etchachan pano

Loch Etchachan 2

Loch Etchachan 3

Tors

spot the dog

Pano of Derry Cairngorm Ben Macdui and Loch Etchachan

[kev_russ]

Bootiful pics

[SMRussell]

Grand stuff - did Carn a'Mhaim, Ben Macdui & Derry Cairngorm in dense clag last 'summer' and saw diddly-squat
Some lovely photos there - Great to see some of what we missed.

The 'Spot the dog' photo gave me a grin

[quoman]

Lovely photo's and good report like the pic of the tor wi you and the dog on it well done.

[CheeseHat]

Looks like a great day out - those mountains look so great with the snow patches on them.

I'll be spending a few days in Braemar over Easter, so hoping for some similar weather and will be doing this same walk, I think. Beinn Mheadhoin is the big goal for the trip anyway.

Good luck with the rest of your training for the West Highland Way.

[soapy27]

Thanks for all comments folks would highly recommend these hills to anyone especially when the weathers like this trully amazing day even though a bit windy

[monty]

Great set of photos Soapy and a nice bog walk.

[pigeon]

Nice one soapy ,did this very walk last week in similar conditions,good training for your west highland way

[BlackPanther]

Lovely pictures. Cairngorms in full glory
Beinn Mheadhoin is high on my priority list, I considered tackling it last weekend (from Coire Cas via Shelter Stone) but wasn't sure about weather. It looks like I needn't have worried, should have gone for it. Well, I did two Munros in Drumochter instead so no damage done But my appetite for a big Cairngorm trip is now enormous!

[dogplodder]

Great report and photos. I've still to do these two but coming from the north not sure which way to do it. It's a long drive to Lin of Dee but I fancy doing it that way.

I almost did Beinn Mheadhoin via Shelter Stone but my pal broke her ankle before we got to the top and we were airlifted out!

[soapy27]

Lovely pictures. Cairngorms in full glory
Beinn Mheadhoin is high on my priority list, I considered tackling it last weekend (from Coire Cas via Shelter Stone) but wasn't sure about weather. It looks like I needn't have worried, should have gone for it. Well, I did two Munros in Drumochter instead so no damage done But my appetite for a big Cairngorm trip is now enormous!

Yeah BP you should have just went for it .Was a little windy but overall was a cracking day.I've done half the Cairgorms munro's now and these are easily my favourite although i would have liked to see the Shelter Stone so thats an excuse to come back and do them from the north.

[soapy27]

Great report and photos. I've still to do these two but coming from the north not sure which way to do it. It's a long drive to Lin of Dee but I fancy doing it that way.

I almost did Beinn Mheadhoin via Shelter Stone but my pal broke her ankle before we got to the top and we were airlifted out!

Thats very unfortunate about your friend hope shes ok. the boulder field on the top of Derry Cairngorm was very tricky and nearly went over my ankle aswell. You should definately get back and try again the distance from Linn of Dee took its toll but the scenery was well worth the effort.

[soapy27]

Thanks for all comments much appreciated its days in the hills like this that make it all worth the effort .Hopefully we get the weather for doing the WHW in May but im not sure thats possible to get 5 days good weather in a row in the Highlands .Fingers crossed