The Weather forecast had looked promising for the weekend so I planned to give Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch a go from Loch Muick , this is my first ever report on walk highlands so here we go.

An early start from Newtonhill on the Aberdeenshire Coast had me arriving at Loch Muick car park around 06.40am.

Geared up and set off around 07.00am on a frosty morning I think at around -4deg C with clear sky above , so things were looking good.

It wasn't long before coming across the local wildlife which was very pleasing indeed ,great numbers of Deer.
The route along the south side of the Loch very easy going and at this time in the morning I seemed to be the only one on it.
IMG_2660 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

Views back the way to where I had set off from.
IMG_2664 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

The Deer were not moving out the way for me for sure and were very close indeed just off the path to the left near the Boat House.
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Again more views back the way.
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Looking down Loch Muick with Broad Cairn in the background.
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Stayed on this path instead of taking a right to take the other route which would have taken me up via Corrie Chash , I think I made the choice of the easier ascent.

Black Burn Photo
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Looking across toward Lochnagar.
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Toward the Allt Dubh where I would descend later on from Dubh Loch
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Looking down at Glas Allt Shiel lodge.
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Once up at a reasonable height you were now getting a view over to Glen Doll/Glen Clova areas and again more deer away over to the left on Sandy Hillock , didn't capture them on the camera this time. Mountain Hares starting to make a presence also , and every now and again a pair of Black Grouse would fly out the Heather.
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Looking back down Loch Muick.
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Looking over to Mount Keen in the distance.
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Just about there for Broad Cairn and the boulder field that lies ahead.
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Views whilst on Broad Cairn
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Looking toward Cairn Bannoch which was the next stop
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View back over to Broad Cairn from Cairn Bannoch
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Looking across to Eagles Rock
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Cairngorm Range to the North.
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Now it was time to head for Dubh Loch which was a bit hard going as the ground was very boggy with all the snow melt ,but good all the same with great scenery surrounding whilst walking by the Allt an Dubh-lach waterfalls.
IMG_2732 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

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Wee bit of snow movement there , this is the slopes of Cairn Bannoch around the area where I made my descent and had to watch what I was doing around that area.
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IMG_2737 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

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Looking back up to the waterfalls , the route down which I just taken.
IMG_2754 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

I reach a bouldery Dubh Loch eventually and then head on down to Loch Muick.
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IMG_2758 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

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A few photos of around Loch Muick and it was camera away and crack on back to the car park from the lodge.

IMG_2767 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

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IMG_2771 by stuartand1972, on Flickr

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All in all it had been a very enjoyable day and I would certainly recommend this route to anyone , views are fantastic around the area and spoiled for wildlife so I was.