We walked the hill on a two-day outing of 70 kms. It took us two beautiful summer days to walk from Blair Atholl right into the heart of the Cairngorms and then to walk out again to Aviemore. We started from Blair Atholl and hiked through Glen Tilt past Marble Lodge and Beinn a’ Ghlo – a hill to be climbed on another day. Across the bridge at the waterfall of Tarf Water and then onto the boggy plain leading down to the Linn of Dee, where we camped on the far side of the River Dee on a low ridge (32 km). Millions of midges. Two hours of light breeze gave respite from their attention. Up early in the morning and off to the Devil’s Point higher up the Dee Valley where near the Corrour bothy we rested before the climb up Coire Odhar. Watched the eclipse of the sun on the summit of the hill. A sight to remember but much outpassed in beauty by the hills. Over the point 1213m we reached Cairn Toul and rested for a while. Then we bypassed Sgorr an Lochan Uaine (oblivious of the fact that it was promoted to Munro-status in 1997). Over Einich Cairn and onward across the water streaming from the Wells of Dee we reached the summit of Braeriach were again we rested and enjoyed the view across the Lairig Ghru to Ben Macdui, Carn a’ Mhaim and back to Cairn Toul, Sgorr an Lochan Uaine and Lochan Uaine. Marvellous. Then a quick descent over Sron na Lairige to the Lairig Ghru path. We followed the path through beautiful Rothiemurchus forrest – although we did not really have enough energy left to saviour much if the beauty – to reach the road at Coylumbridge (38 km) at about 9 pm. Found a B&B in Inverdruie and had two pints in Aviemore. Exiting, exhilarating, exhausting and extremely satisfying expedition. On the next day Scotrail brought us back to Blair Atholl and to our car which took us to Glen Affric next.

We walked the hill on a two-day outing of 70 kms. It took us two beautiful summer days to walk from Blair Atholl right into the heart of the Cairngorms and then to walk out again to Aviemore. We started from Blair Atholl and hiked through Glen Tilt past Marble Lodge and Beinn a’ Ghlo – a hill to be climbed on another day. Across the bridge at the waterfall of Tarf Water and then onto the boggy plain leading down to the Linn of Dee, where we camped on the far side of the River Dee on a low ridge (32 km). Millions of midges. Two hours of light breeze gave respite from their attention. Up early in the morning and off to the Devil’s Point higher up the Dee Valley where near the Corrour bothy we rested before the climb up Coire Odhar. Watched the eclipse of the sun on the summit of the hill. A sight to remember but much outpassed in beauty by the hills. Over the point 1213m we reached Cairn Toul and rested for a while. Then we bypassed Sgorr an Lochan Uaine (oblivious of the fact that it was promoted to Munro-status in 1997). Over Einich Cairn and onward across the water streaming from the Wells of Dee we reached the summit of Braeriach were again we rested and enjoyed the view across the Lairig Ghru to Ben Macdui, Carn a’ Mhaim and back to Cairn Toul, Sgorr an Lochan Uaine and Lochan Uaine. Marvellous. Then a quick descent over Sron na Lairige to the Lairig Ghru path. We followed the path through beautiful Rothiemurchus forrest – although we did not really have enough energy left to saviour much if the beauty – to reach the road at Coylumbridge (38 km) at about 9 pm. Found a B&B in Inverdruie and had two pints in Aviemore. Exiting, exhilarating, exhausting and extremely satisfying expedition. On the next day Scotrail brought us back to Blair Atholl and to our car which took us to Glen Affric next.

Another sunny day in Scotland. In the middle of the morning we started our walk at the Corrie Cas car park, walked up the Sron an Aonaich ridge, passed the Ptarmigan Restaurant with the funicular station and climbed the final 100m to Carin Gorm’s summit on a hilarious stone path with a railing of rope with wooden supports. On the summit of Cairn Gorm the beauty of the great mountain range was overwhelming. On we marched to the cliffs of the northern corries. Coire an t-Sneachda, Coire an Lochan and finally Cairn Lochan. On that section of the walk we stopped a lot to take in views of the corries below. A year and half ago I had climbed out of Coire an t-Sneachda onto the ridge between this corrie and Coire an Lochan through snow. The place looked very steep from above and made me think about avalanche risk now even more than then. From Cairn Lochan we crossed the plateau to get a view of the Lairig Ghru but the hill drops too gradually to give a good impression of the pass and the Garbh Coire. We had intended to return to the car park from here along the crest of the western spur of Coire an Lochan before we took a break. After the pause we realized that we would probably not get another chance to climb Ben Macdui on a day as marvellous as today with no cloud in the sky and the sun beaming down on us. And so we continued south on the plateau climbing the last 200m and reaching Ben Macdui’s flat summit in due time. Great views of Cairn Toul, Sgurr an Lochan Uaine and Braeriach with its hanging corries and the Falls of Dee. The other direction offered impressions of the eastern part of the plateau with the torrs on Beinn Mheadhoin and even Ben Avon in the distance. From the summit we returned through the stony desert and past Lochan Buidhe to Coire an Lochain and walked back to Corrie Cas along the crest of the western spur of Coire an Lochan and the lower end of Coire an t-Sneachda. An unforgettable long day out in the Cairngorms and sunburn on my legs which still peel a bit as I write these lines two weeks after the walk.

We walked along the track 200m above Glen Lochay passing below the crags of Creagan Fhearchair on the steep southern slopes of Beinn Heasgarnich. Progress was easy of course and views of Sgiath Chuill and Meall Glas on the south side of Glen Lochay were great, even though these hills might not be of the stuff that gets you twitching in anticipation.

After an hour and five kilometres we reached the bridge over the Allt Batavaim where a path climbs the grassy hillside in a north-north-westerly direction into the corrie below Sron nan Eun (837m). Gradually ascending towards that ridge we soon decided to head for the higher and craggier ground further up on the left, weaving our way through bands of crags. Once on the ridge the view into beautiful Coire cheaththaich more than compensated for the effort of the steep ascent before. You can’t miss the path on the ridge leading towards the final 250 rise to the first Munro of the day Creag Mhor, which is a fine pointed summit with considerable crags girting its upper parts — fine and pointed at least by Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay standards. At the summit the obligatory break was held with sandwiches, water, chocolate and beautiful views of Beinn Heasgarnich, Beinn Challum, Beinn Mhanach, and the summit of Beinn Dorain a number of corries and the Auch Glen away.

From Creag Mhor’s summit we headed west then north down a broad grassy ridge interspersed with rocks. From the beallach between the Munro and Meall Tionail we strolled down easy, almost lush grass slopes to Bealach nan Baintighearna (what a word). From this beallach it’s a steep and unrelenting 350m up the spur of Sron Tarbh. Higher up on this spur tracks converge and finally you are delivered onto the flat top of the Sron. From there it is a few hundred metres before another short climb brings you on top of Stob an Fhir Bhogha (1029m). From there the view opens up and a path along the broad ridge runs all the way to the 1078m summit of Beinn Heasgarnich. Shortly before the summit of Munro No. 2 we met the only other hill walkers of this day. Nice and lonely! We did not linger at the summit of Beinn Heasgarnich for too long because the wind was quite cold and a few sleety showers developed.

Frank and I decided to head down Corrie Bhan with the aim of reaching the high point of the hydro road near Lochan Learg nan Lunn. The upper part of the descent was down steep grass, over and around numerous crags and close by small waterfalls so that some to and fro was called for to find the safest option. Nothing dangerous but enough excitement to add another interesting nuance to this walk. Then the steep terrain gave way to lochans, streams and bog. Well, nobody said it would be an easy stroll home . Past Lochan Achlarich we headed for the northern end of Creag nam Bodach where we wanted to descend steep grass slopes towards Lochan Learg nan Lunn. However, our instinct misled us and we had to do a very, very steep descent for maybe 100m through broken crags and grass grown over scree and boulders. Luckily there were also a few trees whose trunks gave very welcome supports! Anyway, soon we reached the flat and wet terrain by the Lochan, cut through the wet land by the northern shore of the lochan and climbed the final metres towards the road. Then it was another 30 minutes on tarmac past Creag nam Bodach rising on the other side of the lochan back to our car that waited for us at the starting point of the day’s adventure.

All in all this was a very fine hill walk in astonishingly remote and, yes, diverse terrain (by Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay standards). I would do it again any time!

We walked along the track 200m above Glen Lochay passing below the crags of Creagan Fhearchair on the steep southern slopes of Beinn Heasgarnich. Progress was easy of course and views of Sgiath Chuill and Meall Glas on the south side of Glen Lochay were great, even though these hills might not be of the stuff that gets you twitching in anticipation.

After an hour and five kilometres we reached the bridge over the Allt Batavaim where a path climbs the grassy hillside in a north-north-westerly direction into the corrie below Sron nan Eun (837m). Gradually ascending towards that ridge we soon decided to head for the higher and craggier ground further up on the left, weaving our way through bands of crags. Once on the ridge the view into beautiful Coire cheaththaich more than compensated for the effort of the steep ascent before. You can’t miss the path on the ridge leading towards the final 250 rise to the first Munro of the day Creag Mhor, which is a fine pointed summit with considerable crags girting its upper parts — fine and pointed at least by Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay standards. At the summit the obligatory break was held with sandwiches, water, chocolate and beautiful views of Beinn Heasgarnich, Beinn Challum, Beinn Mhanach, and the summit of Beinn Dorain a number of corries and the Auch Glen away.

From Creag Mhor’s summit we headed west then north down a broad grassy ridge interspersed with rocks. From the beallach between the Munro and Meall Tionail we strolled down easy, almost lush grass slopes to Bealach nan Baintighearna (what a word). From this beallach it’s a steep and unrelenting 350m up the spur of Sron Tarbh. Higher up on this spur tracks converge and finally you are delivered onto the flat top of the Sron. From there it is a few hundred metres before another short climb brings you on top of Stob an Fhir Bhogha (1029m). From there the view opens up and a path along the broad ridge runs all the way to the 1078m summit of Beinn Heasgarnich. Shortly before the summit of Munro No. 2 we met the only other hill walkers of this day. Nice and lonely! We did not linger at the summit of Beinn Heasgarnich for too long because the wind was quite cold and a few sleety showers developed.

Frank and I decided to head down Corrie Bhan with the aim of reaching the high point of the hydro road near Lochan Learg nan Lunn. The upper part of the descent was down steep grass, over and around numerous crags and close by small waterfalls so that some to and fro was called for to find the safest option. Nothing dangerous but enough excitement to add another interesting nuance to this walk. Then the steep terrain gave way to lochans, streams and bog. Well, nobody said it would be an easy stroll home . Past Lochan Achlarich we headed for the northern end of Creag nam Bodach where we wanted to descend steep grass slopes towards Lochan Learg nan Lunn. However, our instinct misled us and we had to do a very, very steep descent for maybe 100m through broken crags and grass grown over scree and boulders. Luckily there were also a few trees whose trunks gave very welcome supports! Anyway, soon we reached the flat and wet terrain by the Lochan, cut through the wet land by the northern shore of the lochan and climbed the final metres towards the road. Then it was another 30 minutes on tarmac past Creag nam Bodach rising on the other side of the lochan back to our car that waited for us at the starting point of the day’s adventure.

All in all this was a very fine hill walk in astonishingly remote and, yes, diverse terrain (by Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay standards). I would do it again any time!

Even though the hill was very close Frank and I nonetheless drove the four kilometres to the start of the hike by car. We set out from the parking in Invervar, crossed the street, opened the gate and were on our way. Shortly after having reached the rim of the forest we left the land rover track behind us and climbed due east on a good stalkers path on the southern flank of the ridge leading to Meall nan Aighean our first Munro of the day. The path’s good layout allowed for easy progress. Higher up the going became a little less easy since there were some steeper sections and the path tended to disappear and reappear. Soon, however, the path deposited us on the crest of the ridge at an altitude of about 550 to 600m. From there it was a steady walk up the ridge which tended to level off once the summit got close.

The terrain being easy we enjoyed the views of the Lawers range to the south and of the ridge walk that lay ahead of us to the north. At the summit of Meall nan Aighean we paused for some cookies and water. Then we retraced the steps of our ascent for a few hundred metres. Soon, however, another track led us in a northerly direction and delivered us at the bottom of the south-eastern flank of Carn Mairg which is a steep grass slope strewn with boulders and interspersed with rubble and some scree. On this easy ridge walk this was the day’s only intimation of more difficult terrain. Nice for a change! Once on the wide plateau-ish summit slopes of Carn Mairg Frank and I soon reached the cairn of Munro No. 2. Beautiful views of Shiehallion! At the cairn we turned in a westerly direction and “embarked” on the long walk to Meall a’Bharr, Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm.

It was quite windy but also quite sunny that day so the walk was a coldish but also a quite cheerful one and the obvious line of fence posts was not needed for orientation. Once the summit of Meall Garbh was reached and the cairn was touched we slumped down for another break in the vicinity of the cairn. Then, descending the western slopes of Meall Garbh we reached the 830m col between the Munro and An Sgorr which we outflanked on the north-west loosing too much height which necessitated a climb back to the col between this intermediate bump on the ridge and Carn Gorm. Then there was the final steep-ish climb up to the fourth Munro of the day. The path debuts quite sharply on the small summit plateau first reaching the cairn and a couple of dozens of steps further the summit cairn. We stopped for a few minutes waiting for clouds to clear; there had been some intermittent clouds covering the high points of the tour from time to time. Soon the final stretch of the walk became visible, though, and we descended in an east-south-easterly direction down the broad south-east ridge of Carn Gorm. This again was a very pleasant walk on a path leading through easy grass. Some steeper sections varied the character of the descent.

Soon we reached the rim of the forest/plantation and the crest of the steep right-hand bank of the Invervar Burn which we followed for a few hundred metres before we crossed over to the left-hand side using the footbridge provided. From there an easy stroll on the land rover track brought us back to Invervar and our faithful car waiting for us.

A very nice day out on the hills, a satisfying ridge walk which due to the good weather had a very benevolent character. Just as we had planned and hoped for: perfect!