August bank holiday backpacking from Linn of Dee. Jo finally gets to see the Cairngorm plateau, free from mist and snow, in all its bouldery, heathery, grassy glory – albeit through a cloud of midges…
From Linn of Dee we began the long walk-in by heading up Glen Lui.
Slightly too far along Glen Lui, in fact, as we initially missed the path over to Glen Quioch. But there was compensation in the shape of a rainbow near Derry Lodge.
A twisted pine in Glen Quoich
Lovely walk through the heather and bilberries along Quoich Water around the base of Beinn a’ Bhuird
Late lunch spot and still a long way from the tops
Finally gaining some real height on Ben Avon, after ascending over Carn Eag Dhubh and Creag an Dail Mhor
Deer grass looking spectacular
View south-east from the slopes of Carn Eas
After catching a shower earlier in the day, the rest passed either side of us
The eastern corries of Beinn a’ Bhuird, from Ben Avon
Boulders, grass and granite tors
Leabaidh an Daimhe Bhuidhe. And a surprising number of walkers and bikers milling around for 5pm on a Friday…
Garbh Coire and the “Bhuird-a-saurus” (not looking quite as much like a stegosaurus’s back from here as it did earlier)
View north towards Glen Avon, from the slopes of Cnap a Chleirich
A stream on the way to Beinn a’ Bhuird’s North Top
Coire nan Clach and Dubh Lochan
Campsite number one: far side of this lochan just above the expanse of Moine Bhealaidh below Beinn a’ Bhuird, with a little breeze and no midges
Pondering the best place for the tent (Beinn a’ Chaorainn and Beinn a’ Chaorainn Beag above Dave’s head)
Moine Bhealaidh bog, heading for Beinn Bhreac (it was further away than we thought)
Back across the bog to the summit of Beinn a’ Chaorainn
We then dropped down to Lairig an Laoigh and took a cross-country route through the heather under Stob Coire Etchachan to pick up the path (the first of the day) near the Hutchison Memorial Hut.
Upper reaches of Derry Burn, with Creagan a Choire Etchachan at the head of the valley
After a stiff climb up Beinn Mheadhoin and back, we took the ascending path south of Loch Etchachan before breaking away towards Derry Cairngorm
Evening ascent of Derry Cairngorm, looking over to Carn a’ Mhaim and Cairn Toul
Campsite number two, high on the path from Loch Etchachan to Ben Macdui. Unlike the first, this one was close to several other campers (although we couldn’t actually see any), completely windless and plagued with midges.
In the morning we made a quick getaway onto the plateau for breakfast (there were still midges, but they took longer to find us). We were also high enough to be above the early morning mist.
After visiting Ben Macdui (for the second time in six months, but in very different conditions), we descended to the south, towards the enticing-looking ridge of Carn a’ Mhaim
The ridge was indeed very nice, and the atmospheric views of the Lairig Ghru and the Cairn Toul/Braeriach range were stunning, but we found that we couldn’t walk fast enough to escape the midges
Over Carn a’ Mahim and heading for Derry Lodge
Across Luibeg Burn and a final view of the hills before a long (but speedy) walk-out in search of respite. Next time really must remember the anti-midge kit.
Yellow Van Mountaineering 