Braeriach

M3 | 1296 m. | 4252 ft.
Translation: Brindled greyish upper part
Pronuncation: brae-reeach

2011 This was supposed to be the “Kaisertour” of our extended Scotland 2011 weekend. It was Kaiser but unfortunately the weather and clouds were not too kind to us.

Since i had planned to go to Cairn Toul at least if not The Devil’s Point we started very early from the lower parking place. The mood was fine, the morning mist looked beautiful and the going was easy till we reached the Chalamain Gap. This is an impressive piece of rock gap which we mastered with some effort. Soon after the gap we lost height to cross Alt Druidh to start the ascent to the ridge.

Unfortunately we were too soon engulfed in mist and this should not change for the rest of the day. Bugger. When we reached the ridge we had very little view and we used the southern edge for orientation and walking. So we reached the summit of Braeriach after 4,5h which we celebrated with an well earned rest. The conditions were not too inviting so the break was not the longest one and we started over again. Thomas and Markus called it a day and returned. I gave them my Landranger copy (to be regretted later).

The rest of the party made quite a navigational effort to continue near the ridge and try to avoid to get lost in the western Cairngorms. We succeeded in reaching the summit of Sgòr an Lochain Uaine. After a short consideration i decided to give Cairn Toul a try while Cord, Joachim and Stefan returned. They used our other map while i trusted in my iPhone and the Anquet software installed (to be regretted later).

So i did a speed as/descent of Cairn Toul. Since i did not want to reascent The Angel’s Peak i tried to walk around but due to zero views and the fact that my iPhone died in the rain i was without any mapping support. I did my best not to walk too low and too much to the south but i did not succeed. Seeing myself already lost in the Grampians i decided to ascent again and search for the ridge which i reached after aprox. 20 minutes. Phew.

From now on i did not left the ridge for more than an inch and i hurried to return to the guys. I visited Braeriach again and started the descent over the broad shoulder where i saw some walkers in the distance. I waved but they did not wave back so i hurried even more to reach them just to discover that these weren’t my guys but a different group which was remarkably slower than i.

And now the big hour of my headlamp came for the first time. The light of it was a welcome help even if the path after the gap was excellent. A sharp descent and a litte ascent over Allt Mor and i reached the parking place where the guys were waiting for me.

36kms and 2200 metres of evelation. The longest munrobagging day i had the joy to endure. I threw my gear in the trunk and we headed for our lovely treehouse where Thomas and Markus had already stocked up our fridge provisions and cooked a lovely meal.

 

1999 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.

Description Braeriach, more than any other Cairngorm mountain, embodies the true character of this great range. Its high plateau is surrounded on nearly every side by deep corries. It is possible to count six on the north-west flank overlooking Gleann Einich, and on the south side above the headwaters of the River Dee three more form part of the magnificent Garbh Choire. High on the summit plateau the River Dee is born and tumbles over the edge of the cliffs, the highest source of any river in Scotland. Distant views of the mountain are no less fine, and seen across the pinewoods of Rothiemurchus the north face of Braeriach, carved by three great corries, is a classic example of mountain architecture.The usual route of ascent is from the north, starting from the access road to Coire Cas about 2½ kilometres beyond Loch Morlich. Follow the footpath which at first descends to cross the river just below the road, then continue above the Allt Creag an Leth-choin and keep heading south-west through the prominent narrow gap just south-east of Creag a' Chalamain. Beyond the gap go downhill slightly, cross the Allt Druidh and climb the ridge on the west side of the Lairig Ghru to the flat summit of Sron na Lairige. Cross a shallow col and climb again round the edge of Coire Bhrochain to reach the summit of Braeriach right on the edge of the cliffs of this corrie.