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I cannot say that the thought of climbing those 2 Munros filled me with excitement.
40 km over pretty uneventful countryside hardly does and so I had pushed Avon and Beinn a Bhuird out of my radar until I could not ignore them any longer. I was getting close to completing the Munros. A thought which filled me with dread to be honest. Did I really wanted to finish them? I love the whole planning and getting away from it all and Munros have been part of my life for such a long time now. Yes I know I could do them again and yes there are Corbett’s…but Munros which I haven’t climbed are special! Anyway enough of me rambling on.
First question was if I wanted to use a bike or if I wanted to walk. Somehow walking had always sounded better and with the plan standing the adventure could begin.
I woke up in lovely Glenshee where I had camped the night before. It was a nice morning and getting ready I drove to Braemar campsite to have a shower. Well it turned out that I was too early
(rather unusual for my standards) and that they would not allow ’shower guests’ until 9am. Mmm certainly far too long to wait and so I continued into Braemar and used the public toilets for a quick wash at the sink…at least they had warm water.
Once I was washed and ready I sat down to have breakfast outside on the car park. It was still early and in no particular rush I made my way towards the starting point.
Setting off
Gleann an t-Slugain
The south top of Beinn a Bhuird comes into view
Setting off I marveled at the beautiful area. A bike would have been great for the first few kilometres, but I actually enjoyed the walk. As usual I had not really paid attention to the walk, as it had seemed all so easy on the walk description. Once I had walked for an hour or so I took a few turns and about 90 min after I set off, Braemar castle came into view.
I was confused and checked the map. Realizing that I took a wrong turn
and added 3km to the whole walk nearly made me cry out in frustration.
Returning I mumbled curses and found the right track. From there it was no problem anymore. The path climbed steadily and I passed the time listening to an audio book.
Listening to the gruesome description of a man getting murdered, Slugain lodge came into view. I played with the idea to visit the lodge, but decided to do that on my return. Walking on, the path got muddy and soaking wet for a while, before getting to an easy to walk bit again.
My story was certainly more exciting than the walk, but at least I was able to switch off the brain and the kilometres passed in a blur. The path climbed steeply towards the Sneck and I was happy to see the strange looking boulders, as it meant I was close to the bealach. At the top I had to enjoy the views north, before I made my way up Ben Avon.
The path up the Sneck
The Snecks boulder stones
Ben Avon is massive. A true giant even in the Cairngorm scale and I once I reached the plateau I was reminded what the Cairmgorms are about…massive spaces with millions of rock and boulders broken up by weather and storms of the millennia.
It was pretty cold too and digging out my gloves and body warmer I was glad when I reached the top. I scrambled up the last few meters and standing at the highest point I looked around me. Pretty impressive!
Looking for shelter I sat down to eat lunch and let my mind wander.
Ben Avons top
View from the top looking back
The top
On top of the rocks looking towards Avon
Having lunch
The weather changed gradually and dark clouds started promised rain. Mmm time to move on. I returned the same way when the heavens opened. I stopped to put my waterproofs on and continued down towards the Sneck and up Beinn a Bhuird .
The Sneck and Beinn a Bhuird
The Sneck on the way down
Close to the top the hill flattened out and rain and clouds changed the country side into a strange eerie nothingness which I actually enjoyed. It reminded me about long walks I took in the past.
The clouds suddenly lifted a bit and the a lump of cairns came into view. Not the most exciting top, but at least I had views towards Ben Macdui and co. I stopped and looked and waved.
After all I climbed those hills before and a greeting seemed matching.
There was no point to linger at the cairn and once I took a photo I moved on. The rain stopped once again and cleared the views up Ben Avon. A single beam of sunlight moved across the hill site and I stood mesmerised. How lovely.
Beinn a Bhuirds summit cairn
The view across the other site of the Cairngorms
The clouds lifted and showed views towards Ben Avon
Ben Avon
Sunshine
The walk along the whole length of Beinn a Bhuird was indeed lovely and I enjoyed every single step, even more so when the rain completely stopped. I reached the south top when a guy on my bike went past me
. Looking in awe (thats a log way pushing a bike up a hill) I decided to climb down the hill in a straight line. It was easy at the start, but the joy stopped when I reached a boulder field. I hate walking down loose boulders, as it always takes me ages. At the bealach I could see a path sloping down towards the right, but as I wanted to head the fasted way down I ignored it and made my way cross country. It was ok (I guess the path would have been better) but at least I passed a number of grouse butts, which I had always wanted to explore.
The way down
Grouse butts
The final way towards the main path crossed a burn and taking my shoes off to walk across it was a great relief for my aching feed. Now it was time to return. As I promised myself I walked past the old lodge and apart from following the path I came, I took the path alongside the burn to see something new. It was lovely and I imagined how people must have walked that path in the past.
Close to Slugain lodge ruins
Slugain lodge ruins
The path from the ruin along the burn
In the lovely forest
Something I would not fancy in my garden
Once I passed the old ruins, my old Achilles heel injury made itself known again and for the last 5 kilometres my walk turned into a hobble with plenty of breaks and ibuprofen tablets to numb the pain.
Oh was I glad to get to my car and drive to the campsite for a well-earned shower, before driving to my tent in Glenshee for a beer and some food. Looking back it had been an impressive long day, although it would be a while before I would fancy a return
