If you are starting from the ski centre and taking the direct route to Cairn Gorm, then across the plateau to Ben Macdui, a nice route back is to come north along the edge of the Lairig Ghru, there are great views along it in both directions. There is a good path that bypasses Cairn Lochan and takes you down down down to the ski center, with some good views of a couple of the northern corries. One word of warning if you haven't done much decent hillwalking recently, this final path that takes you back down will hammer your legs, and you will wake up tomorrow morning with huge DOMS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness(at least I did when I did that route).
- Lairig Ghru looking north.
- Northern corrie of Cairn Lochan.