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Ben Avon and Beinn a'Bhuird bike n hike

Route: Ben Avon via Gleann an-Slugain

Munros: Beinn a' Bhùird, Ben Avon

Date walked: 07/06/2022

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 48.7km

Ascent: 1484m


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Bike - 15.2 miles.
Hike - 15 miles

(Note - If you start this walk from Invercauld, take approximately 6 miles off the cycling distance I recorded)


Day 2 of my Braemar adventure and Ben Avon was the target, with the option of adding in Beinn a'Bhuird if I felt like it. I'd summitted Beinn a'Bhuird a few years ago from the Glen Derry side and wrote a walk report that generated an erm "lively" discussion as I'd said I found the three Munros I did that day rather boring. Quite a few people said I did Beinn a'Bhuird from the wrong side, that it is much better from the Ben Avon route, so I had it there as an option if I fancied it.

This was always going to be a bike n hike for me, and as I was based in Braemar, and the Invercauld Car Park is only 3 miles outside the village, I decided just to leave the car at the Youth Hostel and cycle along the A93 to the traditional start of the walk. That was of course once I'd stopped at my base of operations (The Bothy Coffee Shop) and picked up a sandwich for my lunch.

The cycle along the A93 was fine. It was surprisingly quiet for 10am, but it is a wide enough road for vehicles to pass me safely, which they all did. Nice surface too (you'd never guess this area is visited by Royalty, all the roads are very well maintained! :lol: ) and the road meanders along the south side of the River Dee. The road crossed the Dee at Invercauld Bridge and the second turn on the left was the access to the estate. There was a decent car park here (pay and display), and a few people getting ready to head out. The initial roads into the estate are excellent. I don't remember too many signs at junctions but I had my GPS attached to my handlebars so navigation was easy. Once I turned right off the main estate roads onto a trail through the forest it turned a bit rougher, and got steadily worse until it became the standard rocky access road through the glen. I had my trusty MTB, and the 29 inch wheels made easy going of the surface. Fair bit of climbing here, but that would make the return trip all the better, and faster, or so I thought, more on that later........

I had read Leithy Suburbs report of this exact route, and planned to take the bike all the way into where the descent from Beinn a'Bhuird meets the main path towards Ben Avon. The one thing I always consider with bike n hikes is there has to be a balance between effort and reward, in terms of how far I cycle. I got to a point when the main path up Gleann an-Slugain split, it's almost directly south of the summit of Meall an t-Slugain on the OS map, I stopped here and analysed both paths. The one that went downhill was thin with high grass on either side, and disappeared from view, so I had no idea what lay beyond the first few hundred metres. The one that went uphill really went up hill and was pretty rough. I decided just to leave the bike here and took the high road in, with the intention to take the low road out to compare the two and see if they could be biked. I was only 1 mile from my intended dismount point, so that would only add about 20 mins of walking each way.

As luck would have it, I had an unknowing volunteer to help me with my experiment. A chap on an electrically assisted bike passed by me and opted for the high road. I set off behind him and, until we arrived at the main path towards Ben Avon, kept the distance between us even. That's what I mean by effort and reward. He was putting a lot more effort in that me (the surface was very rough) and not getting any further ahead. Plus on the decent it was just absolute puncture territory, especially for someone like me who, as soon as I hit a downhill, thinks I'm in my teens again and hurtle downhill until something on the bike (or me) breaks! There were a few sections of this path that were un-bikeable too so he had to carry his bike a few times. This path drops to meet the low road just beyond a ruined building and then it's a short, steep climb (can't be biked either) into the glen between the two Munros, and a turn to the north to follow the excellent path towards Ben Avon.

IMG_20220607_104437[1].jpg
Path towards Ben Avon


Now, if you're only planning to do only Ben Avon, this section would be a doddle on a bike. It's like this all the way until the turn off for the climb to The Sneck. My exit path was shortly appearing on the left, so not much point in me bringing the bike up here.

It was another beautiful day, and yet again I was completely on my own. The other chap on his bike had long since gone from view and I was wandering along this stunning glen with the two Munros dead ahead, although I couldn't see much of either of them yet.

IMG_20220607_105451[1].jpg
View west to Carn Fiaclach with Beinn a'Bhuird's south side behind it


I found it to be quite sheltered in here and with the lack of wind the temperature was starting to climb. There was heather to either side of the path and it was filled with the same brown moths that I'd seen the previous day when I did Derry Cairngorm, just much more of them! It reminded me of school trips to Butterfly World!

The walk along here took a while, not that I was bothered. More happy top up for me as I was enjoying being in the wilderness again, on a wee adventure in cracking weather. As I got closer to the turn off to head to The Sneck I got my first view of the cliffs of Beinn a'Bhuird, which I hadn't seen the first time. They were very impressive and made this look like a much more interesting mountain from this side.

IMG_20220607_113839[1].jpg
First view of the cliffs of Beinn a'Bhuird


As I approached the Glas Allt Mor I could see the path running up the far side of it. This was the way to The Sneck. Problem was, once I got across the water, I completely lost it! I ended up walking on for a bit, realised I was going the wrong way, doubled back to just before the water and spotted the path. I think I'd just been in my own wee world and completely forgot I was meant to turn. :roll: :lol:

Now the true climbing began. I'd been used to meandering along the glen, the path was still good but the poles were soon deployed to help out. Is it just me or does everything always seem miles away, but you end up getting there sooner than you think? I could see The Sneck, and one person climbing up the side of Ben Avon from it, but it just seemed to never get any closer, but then I was there. I love beallachs like this, I get really excited to see what the view is over the other side. In this case the landscape flattened out and I had a great view north. To my right was the ascent to Ben Avon, to my left was the ascent to Beinn a'Bhuird. Both were very steep, I was starting to feel it in my legs, thought I might just leave Beinn a'Bhuird at this point.

I started off up Ben Avon. It was steep, but the path was still good and zig zagged it's way up. The view across to Beinn a'Bhuird was opening up, it really is a massive lump of a mountain. Soon enough I'd completed the worst of the ascent and was left with a relatively undulating walk towards the summit of Ben Avon.

IMG_20220607_122053[1].jpg
Beinn a'Bhuird and The Sneck


As with yesterday, the landscape was very grey, but here it was mixed with a very pink stone / dust which I'm assuming is ground down pink granite? It was a cool contrast and before long the various tors of the Ben Avon Plateau were in view, No mistaking the summit tor on a day like this, I'd been looking forward to this, I do enjoy a bit of scrambling. :D

IMG_20220607_122635[1].jpg
Summit of Ben Avon


The path leads straight to the middle of this tor and it's a straightforward scramble to the top. Nice grippy rock in these conditions. I'd met a guy on his way back from the summit (possibly the other biker) but I had it to myself, so I settled down on top of the tor and had my lunch. I even lay down and sunbathed for a bit, I was in no rush to go anywhere after all. Views as far as I could see all round.

IMG_20220607_123908[1].jpg
Summit view to Beinn a'Bhuird


IMG_20220607_123923[1].jpg


IMG_20220607_123930[1].jpg


IMG_20220607_123938[1].jpg


IMG_20220607_123954[1].jpg
Obligatory summit selfie


I had to retrace my steps to The Sneck, regardless of what my plans were, so I set off and it was a quick descent to that point. I figured since I was pretty much there, with one final push to the summit plateau of Beinn a'Bhuird, I might as well go for it and see the whole of the other side of the mountain. Once again it was a hard but short climb up onto the plateau, and this time I got to see the size of Ben Avon behind me.

IMG_20220607_133826[1].jpg
Ben Avon from Beinn a'Bhuird, after initial climb from The Sneck


Again it's a big, relatively flat plateau. Got to say, no where near as interesting as Ben Avon and it started to feel like a bit of a slog for nothing. However, the route took me to the top of the cliffs I'd seen earlier, and this was worth the effort. Spectacular views down the cliffs into the corries, especially down to Dubh Lochan.

IMG_20220607_135856[1].jpg


IMG_20220607_141633[1].jpg
Dubh Lochan


So you were all right, hiking up Beinn a'Bhuird from the Ben Avon route is much more scenic than from Glen Derry, however, it's still not a very inspiring Munro. The walk to the summit is an absolute trudge whatever way you approach it from, but the views over the cliffs and the scenery here were enough to take my mind away from it. I thought about missing out the summit, but it was the best point to decide on my descent route from, so made the summit, had something to eat and had a look at my options.

IMG_20220607_143653[1].jpg
Cool sky at the summit of Beinn a'Bhuird


There was only one real option, as I had to get back to the bike. The summit of Beinn a'Bhuird is really rocky so I headed east for a bit, then turned south east to head towards Carn Fiaclach. There was a really obvious path that to Carn Fiaclach and that was what I was aiming for. I ended up dropping down through stones and grass until I got to a large section of snow (you can see that in the 3rd picture.) Where I met the snow was too steep for a safe descent (would've been fast one though!) so I traversed to the east a bit and crossed a much gentler snow slope. Easy task of then dropping to the path (another one of those pink granite ones) and following it round the west side of Carn Fiaclach. This felt a bit counter productive to me as the most direct route seemed to be going to the east side, but by this point of the day a path was the best option, and this was a good path, so I followed it all the way to where it met up with the main path to Ben Avon again.

Now on the way out, I took the low road back to the bike. This is a lovely route through what I think is known as Fairy Glen. It's very green and lush with a small stream babbling away. The path is narrow but good, although I still think it would be a lot of effort to come up on the bike. I had to pass under some low hanging trees which were in blossom and smelt amazing. This was a lovely end to my walk and I was glad I'd went this way instead of following the high road again.

Back to the bike and I was looking forward to the fast downhill........until I caught up with one of the estate's 4x4s that was having to take it very easy, it even grounded out its towbar at one point. I could've went much faster on the bike, but there was no way past so I just stayed a safe distance back and freewheeled along behind it. I felt like cheekily shouting "you should've brought your bike instead" but thought better of it. :lol:

Another issue was it was coffee and cake time, and it was 4.30pm, The Bothy shut at 5.30pm and I had 7 miles to cycle. Thankfully once we exited the forest and got back onto the main estate trails, the 4x4 sped up and I was able to get going. Cycled like a demon and made it to The Bothy with 20mins to spare. Elected to try the Empire Biscuit with my coffee this time, another excellent cake to end the hike with. 8)

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Comments: 2



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J888ohn


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Location: Falkirk
Activity: Mountain Walker
Mountain: Bidean nam Bian
Place: Glencoe or Skye
Gear: Platypus Water Sack
Camera: Panasonic Lumix TZ70

Munros: 212
Corbetts: 5
Fionas: 2
Donalds: 3
Wainwrights: 6
Hewitts: 4
Sub 2000: 5
Long Distance routes: West Highland Way   



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Statistics

2022

Trips: 2
Distance: 76.7 km
Ascent: 2459m
Munros: 3

2020

Trips: 1
Distance: 26.5 km
Ascent: 1120m
Munros: 2

2019

Trips: 2
Distance: 51.6 km
Ascent: 2941m
Munros: 3

2018

Trips: 3
Distance: 101.6 km
Ascent: 5251m
Munros: 11

2017

Trips: 7
Distance: 165 km
Ascent: 7357m
Munros: 12

2016

Trips: 5
Distance: 82.3 km
Ascent: 6258m
Munros: 8

2015

Trips: 8
Distance: 154.68 km
Ascent: 11343m
Munros: 26

2014

Trips: 4
Distance: 86.01 km
Ascent: 5776m
Munros: 17

2013

Trips: 1
Distance: 20.2 km
Ascent: 1018m
Munros: 2

2012

Trips: 1
Distance: 21 km
Ascent: 1542m
Munros: 3

2011

Trips: 3
Distance: 25.3 km
Ascent: 1691m
Munros: 7


Joined: Jul 08, 2011
Last visited: Mar 03, 2024
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