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Best British Walk? Cairngorms.

By Hugh Stewart May 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

Or at least in the top ten. Our favourite Scottish walk, redone after 12 years, a Cairngorm romp of 12plus miles and 4200 ft ascent. Starts high up, at the top Ski car park, and heads initially west from the top right end, past some Cloudberries (May, shy flowerers in England), then head for the obvious long ridge heading just to the right of the northern corries crags (Maidan Creag an Lech-choin). Head for Ben Macdui on an easy path with fabulous views across the Lairig Ghru to the Braeriach/Cairn Toul Corrie, then head ESE to find a path heading E to a low col and down the side of a valley leading to Loch Etchachan, the 5 miles or so from the Ben being utterly sublime, around Etchachan, steeply down to the grand head of Loch Avon (“A’an”) with its huge boulders – try to spot the tiny entrance to a bivy spot under the Shelter Stone, then either across the burn, boots off, or head to the Loch where stepping stones obviate that need. We had previously ascended diagonally from here into the Coire Raibert defile, and onto Cairngorm, but as memory told of erosion, we pressed on by the Loch, a rough outing, and upto the Saddle. From here an initially obvious path leads diagonally up via Ciste Mhearad to descend to the Ptarmigan station, where we have previously obtained refreshments: too late this time, 4.30. This path is difficult to follow higher up and there may well be a sizable snow dump in the Ciste. We would stick to Coire Raibert next time, although the path from the Saddle was delightfully awash with the tiny mountain azaleas.(the map below shows the Coire Raibert route). The path just W of N leads pleasantly down the ridge from the Station, curving W to drop steeply to the car park. Took us eight and a half hours, but you without grandparents joints will be faster. When asked about my favourite Munro, Cairngorm is high up there, as the areas around Loch Avon, the northern corries, and the long northern ridge finishing at the Green Loch all belong to the mountain, only a relatively small sector has been devastated by ugly ski paraphernalia.

Looking north from the initial ascent
Looking to the northern corries from the ascent.
Across the Lairig Ghru to Braeriach/Cairn Toul
Descent to Etchachan, May.
Loch Etchachan
Descending to Loch Avon
The head of the Loch
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: cairngorm.gpx

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If you are enjoying my content please consider supporting my passion by purchasing one of my books. Many thanks, Hugh.

Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

Note, this is now fully described in the Second Edition of "Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations", 2014, walk 1b. If the long Langcliffe Scar track does not appeal, but a bit more hillwork does, try this start: as per the book, walk 1, but at the Malham/Settle road turn right … Read More » about Alternative start to the Malham Circular walk

The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

Another plague walk which we could do from home, and although this seems to be a popular walk for locals, we had never done it, and decided to do it both because of that and as we thought it would be less popular and hence less boot-churned muddy than others round Caton and the Bowland Fells. The … Read More » about The Highfields walk, Halton with Aughton.

A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

I.e. avoiding any crowds parking there. Start at Little Cragg car park and go down the road, turning right to go over the top of Baines Crag for your first view of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells. At the road go down then left over the first ladder stile and cross the infant Condor by stone or … Read More » about A Clougha Pike circuit, avoiding Rigg Lane.

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