Ben Macdui

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The second highest mountain in Britain, Ben Macdui is in the centre of the arctic-like Cairngorms plateau - a much wilder place than Ben Nevis. Climbed equally frequently from both Deeside and Speyside, the summit is said to be haunted by the wraith-like Old Grey Man.

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Region: Cairngorms

Altitude: 1309 metres

Users' Rating:
  • Currently 3.85/5
Rating: 3.8/5 (162 votes cast)

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Detailed route description and map

Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm from the Linn of Dee

Ben Macdui and Cairngorm from the ski centre

Other routes and challenges

The three routes above cover the most common ascents; another option is via Glen Derry, heading up paths to Coire Etchachan and Little Loch Etchachan and then up to the plateau. From Corrour Bothy, there is a faint path forking off the Lairig Ghru route north of the Clach nan Taillear, crossing the Allt Clach nan Taillear higher up for a rough and bouldery ascent to the summit.

The epic challenge hereabouts is the ascent of the Cairngorm 4000ers, best accomplished from Speyside. Ascend Brariach via the Chlamain Gap from the Sugar Bowl car park, head round to Cairn Toul and then Corrour Bothy. Use the Allt Clach nan Taillear route onto Ben Macdui, then continue to Cairngorm and back down to the ski centre.

Walker-friendly accommodation in the area

Cairngorms Hotels

Cairngorms B&B

Cairngorms cottages

Cairngorms hostels

Panoramic summit view (click to open)


Ben Macdui



Users' walk reports for Ben Macdui

There are 10843 Walkhighlanders who have climbed Ben Macdui. They have contributed 209 public walk reports including this summit. These are ordered below with the most popular ones first. The rightmost column shows how many summits were included in their report, which may help you to find the most relevant reports.

Walk report AuthorDate walked LikesHills
  9/6/15  39 M10C1
  15/8/14  29 M5
  15/7/21  22 M6
  13/6/14  19 M11
  22/9/12  19 M1
  8/10/14  17 M2
  1/8/20  15 M1
  22/8/11  15 M3
  19/8/16  13 M2
  2/10/14  13 M5
  13/9/14  13 M10
  20/7/13  13 M8
  28/3/17  12 M6
  21/9/13  12 M3
  21/7/13  12 M2
  20/7/20  11 M6
  3/11/15  11 M3
  6/2/15  11 M1
  25/6/14  11 M6
  22/3/12  11 M2
  12/2/10  11 M2
  17/10/20  10 M2
  24/8/19  10 M6
  29/8/19  9 M2
  27/8/19  9 M2
  22/9/16  9 M2
  7/9/16  9 M6
  3/8/18  8 M3
  16/7/16  8 M3
  2/7/16  8 M3
  9/6/15  8 M2
  1/9/13  8 M13
  24/11/12  8 M1
  4/7/11  8 M5
  21/9/43  8 M1
  20/4/18  7 M4
  3/11/15  7 M3
  9/9/15  7 M7C1
  22/9/12  7 M2
  14/7/21  6 M3
  30/7/16  6 M6
  15/9/15  6 M1
  10/8/12  6 M6
  2/6/12  6 M5
  16/6/11  6 M4
  22/4/11  6 M2
  7/11/20  5 M4
  21/7/18  5 M3
  15/7/18  5 M7
  18/7/17  5 M1
  6/7/15  5 M1
  14/6/13  5 M5
  25/5/13  5 M2
  18/2/13  5 M2
  17/2/13  5 M1
  11/3/12  5 M2
  4/3/12  5 M2
  24/7/11  5 M1
  28/6/21  4 M9
  8/9/19  4 M1
  3/9/18  4 M2
  27/5/17  4 M2
  22/8/15  4 M3
  31/7/13  4 M2
  7/7/13  4 M3
  22/9/12  4 M2
  19/6/12  4 M2
  21/4/12  4 M2
  11/1/12  4 M2
  22/8/21  3 M6
  29/6/21  3 M1
  31/7/20  3 M3
  24/8/19  3 M8
  22/7/18  3 M3
  10/7/17  3 M3
  27/5/17  3 M1
  10/9/16  3 M2
  25/12/15  3 M1
  11/12/15  3 M1
  20/10/15  3 M2
  21/6/15  3 M11
  12/6/14  3 M3
  9/6/13  3 M1
  31/7/12  3 M3
  29/4/12  3 M1
  25/4/11  3 M1
  24/12/10  3 M2
  10/10/93  3 M2
  17/7/21  2 M3
  11/9/20  2 M6
  6/9/20  2 M7
  23/8/20  2 M2
  1/6/19  2 M3
  12/5/19  2 M2
  20/5/18  2 M2
  30/7/17  2 M4
  17/7/17  2 M5
  16/7/17  2 M3
  19/6/16  2 M5
  20/10/15  2 M7
  10/10/15  2 M3
  19/9/15  2 M3
  28/6/15  2 M2
  24/5/15  2 M4
  29/6/13  2 M1
  20/4/13  2 M2
  31/3/13  2 M8
  1/11/12  2 M5
  30/6/12  2 M2
  19/11/11  2 M4
  25/8/11  2 M2
  28/6/11  2 M3
  24/6/11  2 M8
  21/4/11  2 M2
  26/2/11  2 M3
  10/9/09  2 M3
  22/7/76  2 M3
  29/6/21  1 M9
  2/8/20  1 M2
  4/8/18  1 M6
  20/5/18  1 M2
  10/8/17  1 M2
  6/5/17  1 M2
  17/4/17  1 M3
  11/7/16  1 M2
  16/8/15  1 M3
  30/11/14  1 M7
  25/11/14  1 M5
  10/8/14  1 M3
  9/8/14  1 M3
  25/7/14  1 M3
  19/6/14  1 M1
  28/9/13  1 M2
  15/7/13  1 M3
  9/7/13  1 M4
  31/7/12  1 M2
  28/7/12  1 M2
  28/7/12  1 M2
  21/7/12  1 M2
  29/2/12  1 M4
  12/11/11  1 M2
  5/10/11  1 M3
  19/6/11  1 M2
  11/6/11  1 M3
  2/5/11  1 M2
  3/3/11  1 M1
  20/6/10  1 M2
  17/10/09  1 M2
  22/8/09  1 M2
  24/7/09  1 M4
  13/7/09  1 M3
  2/6/08  1 M3
  14/9/19  0 M2
  1/10/18  0 M1
  11/8/18  0 M2
  19/7/18  0 M1
  9/6/18  0 M2
  25/5/18  0 M6
  14/11/17  0 M2
  20/6/17  0 M2
  4/9/16  0 M1
  27/8/16  0 M2
  20/8/16  0 M3
  10/8/16  0 M2
  6/6/16  0 M2
  5/6/16  0 M3
  30/4/16  0 M3
  7/8/15  0 M7
  5/8/15  0 M2
  24/7/15  0 M3
  29/12/14  0 M2
  5/10/14  0 M2
  7/6/14  0 M2
  1/5/14  0 M8
  22/6/13  0 M4
  9/6/13  0 M2
  26/11/12  0 M2
  15/7/12  0 M2
  24/6/12  0 M1
  3/6/12  0 M3
  1/6/12  0 M3
  5/5/12  0 M3
  3/10/11  0 M3
  24/9/11  0 M2
  31/8/11  0 M2
  25/8/11  0 M2
  18/7/11  0 M2
  21/6/11  0 M2
  4/6/11  0 M2
  22/5/11  0 M2
  15/4/11  0 M2
  7/11/10  0 M2
  5/11/10  0 M2
  5/10/10  0 M1
  30/9/10  0 M3
  21/9/10  0 M9
  12/9/10  0 M2
  30/8/10  0 M2
  18/8/10  0 M8
  17/6/10  0 M3
  23/1/10  0 M2
  11/10/09  0 M2
  29/8/09  0 M1
  5/5/09  0 M2
  22/11/08  0 M4
  15/2/08  0 M1
  6/10/02  0 M1
  9/7/97  0 M4
  12/6/93  0 M7

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