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Lochnagar 5 +

Lochnagar 5 +


Postby Broggy1 » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:13 pm

Route description: White Mounth Munros, Glen Muick

Munros included on this walk: Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, Càrn a' Choire Bhòidheach, Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr, Lochnagar

Corbetts included on this walk: Conachcraig

Date walked: 23/07/2015

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 30.3 km

Ascent: 1664m

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Our annual three day trip to Scotland.

The forecast did not look great at all for the Wednesday with the best chance of clarity being in the East. With this in mind we headed for Glen Muick where - after kindly being allowed through the closed A93 by the road workers - we arrived at 11pm to set up camp and a quick can before bed.

A cold night and not much sleep saw us head to the Spittal of Glenmuick car park to set off at 7am.

Simple and easy path up between Lochnagar and Conachcraig before taking the clear path branching off for the Corbett. At this point it looked like a dodgy day with cloud over the tops and rain beginning to pour over Lochnagar itself.

Start of path.JPG
Start of the path - clear paths right around this one


Meikle Pap in view.JPG
Meikle Pap and Lochnagar in view - looks like being a good day


Heading up Conachcraig.JPG
Heading up Conachcraig and the weather still looks decent


Passing rain over Lochnagar.JPG
But looking back to Lochnagar tells a different story - fortunately this was a passing shower and we would have clear summits for the rest of the trip!


Conachcraig summit.JPG
Conachcriag summit


The route up Lochnagar was then easy enough with the best views of the day being gained from the mountains grand cliffs. The strong winds made it incredibly cold for the time of year up there and I found myself zipping on my trouser bottoms and getting my hat and gloves out of the bag.

Lochnagar.JPG
Lochnagar cliffs


Near the top.JPG
Nearing the top


Lochnagar Trig.JPG
Trig Point


With a lot of the hard work done the rest of the work was an easy promenade around the White Mounth ticking off four more Munros. Once we got onto the Cairn Bannoch arm the wind was no longer in our faces and we felt much warmer.

Cairn a' Choire Bhoidheach.JPG
Cairn a'Choire Bhoidheach summit looking to Lochnagar


Route to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor.JPG
Route to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor


Carn an t-Sagairt Mor.JPG
Carn an t-Sagairt Mor summit


Cairn Bannoch ahead.JPG
Cairn Bannoch ahead - warmer now.


Cairn Bannoch looking to Eagles Rock.JPG
Cairn Bannoch summit looking to Eagles Rock


Broad Cairn ahead.JPG
Broad Cairn ahead


Looking to the Cairngorms.JPG
And the Cairngorms behind!


Loch Muick from Broad Cairn.JPG
Loch Muick from Broad Cairn


There seemed to be two options for getting down from here - a high road and a low road - but with the wind still biting our choice was made easy and we went for the track heading down to the shores of Loch Muick.

This turned out to be a terrific path and it was a long (and at times undulating) stroll back to the car park along the shores of the Loch.

Descending to Loch Muick.JPG
Descending to Loch Muick


Back to Broad Cairn.JPG
Looking back at Broad Cairn


Loch Muick.JPG
Track beside Loch Muick - popular with walkers just doing a circuit of the Loch


Conachcraig.JPG
Conachcraig


A nice route this with good paths meaning that the miles feel fairly easy and the gradients not too bad at all. The last 4 Munro's particularly are a very straightforward exercise.
Last edited by Broggy1 on Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Broggy1
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Re: Lochnager 5 +

Postby Guinessman » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:19 pm

Broogy, heading this way in an October backpack, did you tent camp at the Spittal?
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Re: Lochnager 5 +

Postby Broggy1 » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:22 pm

Guinessman wrote:Broogy, heading this way in an October backpack, did you tent camp at the Spittal?


Not at the Spittal - a bit lower down the valley near the river.

I know it is said to be "frowned" upon in the area but we felt that our late arrival (11pm) and early start (tents gone by 6.30am) would be fine.

There were a few camped at the Spittal near the picnic benches so sure you can do but others may know better.
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Broggy1
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Re: Lochnagar 5 +

Postby Guinessman » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:34 pm

Thanks for that.
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Re: Lochnagar 5 +

Postby simon-b » Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:28 pm

This is a good round, Broggy, and that was a nice detour to add the Corbett.
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