Beinn a' Chaorainn & Beinn Bhreac

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Summary

This pair of Munros lies between the Beinn a'Bhùird and Ben Avon massifs and the main mass of the High Cairngorms. Often overlooked, they are separated by the sprawling Moine Bhealaidh, a featureless plateau, but the pinewoods of Glen Derry provides a fine approach and the views are good.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Excellent approach paths - many cycle as far as Derry Lodge. Some boggier ground on the hill with difficult navigation if visibility is poor. The crossing of the Glas Allt Mòr could be a problem in wet weather.

Public Transport

Bus from Braemar (Jul-Sep only).

Start

Linn of Dee car park (charge). Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 29km / 18 miles
Time (summer conditions): 8 - 10 hours
Ascent: 878m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NO062898

Summits Climbed

Munro: Beinn Bhreac
Munro: Beinn a' Chaorainn

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (45)

Stage 1

From the back of the Linn of Dee car park a footpath signed for 'Glen Lui' heads into the woods. Follow this, passing a wooden lookout area and then a boardwalk built to ease the route across a boggy area. The path emerges onto a track a short distance beyond. Turn left along the track, which runs alongside a fenced section of forest at first before passing some beautiful pinewoods. After a couple of kilometres it crosses Black Bridge over the Lui to meet the main track to Derry Lodge. Turn left and follow this track up the glen.

Stage 2

The track continues up the glen, undulating slightly and passing some forestry on the right. Eventually the shelter belt of pines surrounding Derry Lodge come into view. Derry Lodge was a grand Victorian shooting lodge, used by Queen Victoria. This impressive building, which, like the rest of the estate, now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland, is boarded up and unused and has been for many years.

Stage 3

Don't cross the bridge beyond the lodge but instead stay on the excellent path on the east side of Glen Derry; until recently this was a landrover track but the ground has been reinstated by the National Trust. As the path turns north up the glen, continue through the forest for a couple of kilometres to where the path reaches a high point before descending slightly to a small cairn - about 40m after a small burn. Turn right up through the trees at this point, following a narrow but clear path that leads towards the bealach between Meall Lunndain and Beinn Bhreac; it is boggy as it heads up through and out of the trees.

Stage 4

Higher up the path becomes drier for a time and is joined by another coming in from the right. It heads over a curious hummock above the bealach before a final climb up more soggy slopes towards the plateau between the two tops of Beinn Bhreac. The summit is the more easterly of these, marked by a large cairn. There are good views back down to the pinewoods of Glen Derry as well as out towards Lochnagar.

Stage 5

The vast tablelands of the Moine Bhealaidh now stretch ahead for several kilometres, with Beinn a'Chaorainn visible in the distance. Pick up a path from between the two summits of Beinn Bhreac that keeps to the east side of vast areas of peaty ground, decorated with cottongrass. The path peters out in a boggy area before improving again, before finally vanishing in a second bog. From here aim for the stony southeastern shoulder of Beinn a'Chaorainn, thankfully giving drier going.

Stage 6

Climb these final slopes to reach the large cairn at the summit of Beinn a'Chaorainn at 1083 metres. The extra height makes the view much more extensive than that from Beinn Bhreac, with Ben Macdui, highest of the Cairngorms, in view to the left of the numerous granite tors of Beinn Mheadhoin. The best descent route is down the southwest shoulder at first.

Stage 7

The very steep final slope down towards the summit of the Lairig an Laoigh is slightly easier if you head further south. Once you reach the Lairig, turn left down this path as it slopes down into upper Glen Derry, with some great views across the upper glen into Coire Etchachan.

Stage 8

Once the floor of the glen is reached the path is joined by the broad path coming down from Coire Etchachan and the Hutchison Memorial Hut. Continue down the path to soon reach the considerable side-stream of the Glas Allt Mòr . This can usually be crossed using stepping stones but can be quite impossible if the stream is in full spate. Beyond this the empty glen continues for several kilometres before reaching the beginning of the Derry pinewoods. Stay on the east bank to rejoin the outward route and eventually lead back to Derry Lodge. From here, return to the Linn of Dee using your outward route.

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