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Date - Sat 03/07/2010
Title - Bynack More (inc. the Barns of Bynack)
Route - Glenmore Lodge - Ryvoan - Summit - Continue downhill to the Barns. Retrace steps to return.
Weather - A bit windy. Avoided some passing showers. Hazy.
People - Me / Col / J
Time - 7.5 Hours
Distance - 23.1km
Ascent - 978m
Max Altitude - 1090m
A generally poor forecast for most areas over this weekend put us in the Cairngorms on the Saturday, hopeful of staying dry but expecting a bit of a wind blasting. On the day we considered ourselves lucky not to get rained on and the wind wasn't much of a problem given the directions we were walking - it also helps that Bynack More offers plenty of spots for shelter. During the ascent I was recalling Graeme and Kev's epic back in March on this hill - unaware at that very moment Graeme was in the middle of another even bigger epic!
It was a great day out - my pals were out for the first time this year and the route offered nothing in the way of difficulty. We detoured for a coffee in Ryvoan Bothy on the way out - 2 of us have been before and noticed they've built a sleeping platform there now. It's a fairly easy walk up and steepens for the final push up the rocky N ridge of Bynack More - looks harsher than it is - I took on some optional easy scrambling but there's paths all the way. We continued on from the summit to the Little Barns and then East slightly more downhill to the larger Barns of Bynack - massive chunks of granite - excellent features, great shelter, and a perfect lunch spot. From there we contoured round the hill under the summit and picked up the path to retrace our steps back. I'd highly recommened going for a look at the Barns if your on this hill.
We started from the end of the road beside Glenmore Lodge. A nice wander through the forest to begin - soon enough reaching Lochan Uaine.
Further up the path we took a half km detour to Ryvoan Bothy, complete with new sleeping platform
We went back down the path from the bothy, soon turning E along the path toward the bridge to cross the River Nethy.
Looking back NW to Meall a' Bhuachaille
Loch a' Gharbh-choire
Strath Nethy pass
The path climbs up onto the large N shoulder of Bynack More, further up veering right toward the summit.
On 818 top approaching final section of N ridge
Looking back
Approaching Bynack More summit
Summit
We continued South to the Little Barns
Looking into the Central Cairngorms
Little Barns
From here we went East and more steeply downhill for a short section toward the Barns of Bynack
The gap
Looking back from inside the gap
The other side of it
We went inside the Barns through the gap in the middle of this pic - inside it's like a small maze of slopes and elevated platforms - great fun for a climb around!
Lunch spot
After lunch we retraced our steps to return, although briefly contouring around the hill on the E side of the summit before rejoining the path to descend.
S into the Lairig an Laoigh
Descending N ridge
Glancing back to Bynack More summit. Bynack Beg on right
Approaching bridge to cross River Nethy
All that remained was a nice walk back through the forest, sun shining, too breezy for flying insects, perfect
