A Bigger Day Out in The Cairngorms

On Sat 2 July, Ann and John headed back into the Cairngorms for another long tramp. This time the targets were Ben Avon and Beinn a Bhuird, starting at the Linn of Quoich. The forecast of clear, warm and sunny weather was spot on, although fairly soon we were wishing it wasn’t as it made for a very muggy approach. Before we had even left the track it had clouded over and for a while looked like it might chuck it down at any moment.



Beinn a Bhuird from the approach

The rain held off and we were soon on the new (to us) path through the fantastic old pine woods. There was a NTS sign informing us not to linger in this area as some rare birdies were nesting, but it didn’t tell us what – would have been nice to know.

In any event, lingering was not part of the game plan for today so we were soon through the woods and joined the path in from the top of Glen an t-Slugain. Like the path through the woods this has been massively improved since our last visit and has the mixed blessing of making access much easier. Soon though it was time to leave the path and go cross-country, up steep hillsides to the top of Carn Eas. Going this way gives a much better appreciation of how just big Ben Avon is compared to the bagging route via The Sneck, and isn’t really any longer. For our efforts we were rewarded with a fine view and a very agitated dotterel with bouncing chick in tow.



My kind of tory - Ben Avon from the SW top

A fine wander of around 3km got us to the summit, where we met the first person we had seen all day, and a belated first lunch (although we had had an emergency second-elevenses stop earlier).



Beinn a Bhurid from the summit of BenAvon

A few more folks appeared so and it was time to turn east and tackle Beinn a Bhuird. This is quite a pleasant and easy section, with just a short steep part up from The Sneck. A short diversion got us to the top of the classic climb “Squareface” where a couple of climbers were just getting to the spectacular final pitch. Long walk for a short route though. Then it was on to the summit, which was a place of very mixed emotions. First, pleasure at a yummy and overdue second lunch, then pain (more mental than physical) at getting my first midge bite of the season. Not bad, making it to July without one, but it could be seen as an indication of how little we have been out.

Refuelled it was time for the long trek back out to the car, which as ever is best not dwelt upon. Overall a day of around 35 km and 1300 m ascent, and we finally beat Naismith. Ha!