Get Lost Mountaineering

Meall a’ Bhuacaille from Loch Morlich Visitor Centre

Start/Finish

Car park at Loch Morlich Visitor centre opposite Loch Morlich campsite on road from Aviemore to Cairngorm ski area.

Distance/Time

15 km.      Approx 6 hours.

Peaks

Meall a’ Bhuacaille, 810 m, NH 990 115.

Creagan Gorm, 732 m, NH 978 120.

Craiggowrie, 686 m, NH 963 134. OS sheet 36.

Introduction

This is a pleasant walk, mainly on grass, with easy navigation. Being almost due N of Cairngorm, there are striking views of the Cairngorm range including Bynack More and Braeriach. This walk becomes much more serious in winter conditions and its seriousness is often underestimated.

Route

(1) Walk past the Visitor Centre onto the minor tarmac road which forks left off the main road. Go past Reindeer House towards Glenmore Lodge. There is a separate track for walkers and cyclists on the left of the road. Continue to Glenmore Lodge where the walkers’ track joins the vehicle track which is a continuation of the minor road. The very good track continues through pleasant woodland and past the even more pleasant An Lochan Uaine (The green lochan) with its green tinted water. Soon after, at an obvious fork in the track, go left and reach Ryvoan Bothy – a good clean shelter in poor weather. From the bothy, an obvious easy path leads roughly W, with some stepped sections, to reach the large shelter cairn of Meall a’ Bhuachaille, 810 m.

(2) Descend W by an obvious path to reach a bealach at about 630 m. It is possible to descend from here, on the obvious good path, back to the start. Continue NW up the other side, on an obvious path, but more boggy and peaty, to reach the cairned summit of Creagan Gorm, 732 m.

(3) Continue NW, still on the obvious boggy path, to another bealach then up the other side to reach the unnamed top of 711 m. Continue down NW then N up to the cairned top of Craiggowrie, 686 m.

(4) Descend NW on an obvious path which curves around left to enter a wood where it is initially boggy. Soon after the going improves and the path becomes a good track. At a junction, take the left, SE, track to reach Badaguish which is now a well developed outdoor activities centre. Walk through the centre to its far side then fork left, off the tarmac road, on to a good track which leads to Cairngorm Lodge. Take the track behind the lodge to soon reach the back of the car park.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 8^th September, 2010.