White Mounth Munros, Glen Muick
1. Lochnagar (1155m), 2. Carn a'Choire Bhoideach (1118m), 3. Carn an t-Sagairt Mor (1047m),
4. Cairn Bannoch (1012), 5 Broad Cairn (998m)
Distance: 29km Ascent 1228m Time 9h45m
Certainly the longest walk we have done in the Highlands (and probably anywhere else), and the first and probably only, time we have done / will do 5 Munros in a day. We set off, in clear bright conditions, early in the morning arriving at the Spittal of Glen Muick at 8am. It was cold (0 ℃) but fairly still and initially we had good walking conditions. Our intention was to ascend Lochnager and probably Carn a'Choire Bhoideach (hereafter known as no.2) if we were making good progress and feeling fit. We ended up doing the whole circuit.
On the drive through Glen Muick we saw 6 Mountain Hare - probably more than we have seen anywhere. At the Spittal of Glen Muick there is a small visitor centre describing the work of the Balmoral Estate in managing the land here. The walk starts by crossing the plain where the River Muick emerges from Loch Muick. In this plain we found numerous red deer and a lek of 10 Black Grouse. The path follows a fairly evenly graded track about 3km north of the loch, then leaves the track to climb more steeply to the beleach between Meikle Pap and the main bulk of Lochnager. We took about 2 hours to get to this point and stopped for an apple with the amazing view of the corries seen in the title picture above.
Looking west across the plain at the north end of Loch Muick towards Lochnagar (the summit is at the right hand end of the snowy corrie at the right of the image). Part of our return route can also be seen - across the plateau left of centre, down the steep sunlit (for now) slope and then along just above the loch and past the woodland at the left
It was quite cold and the wind was strengthening as we crossed the summit plateau, but it was still bright and visibility was excellent so we continued.
The track from Lochnagar to no.2 was straightforward though it remained cold and windy. We could see no.3 ahead and although it was cloudier now it was still bright and dry. It seemed reasonable to continue. The problem was that there was not a clear path off the summit of no.2 in the direction of no.3 and much of the west face of no.2 still had snow fields. But we could see the path in the valley below - so we headed for it. We managed to find a bit of shelter from the wind a little way into the ascent of no.3. From here we could see Loch Muick and the return route over Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn stretching ahead of us. The ascent of no.3 was straightforward and only complicated by it having two cairns - so we had to visit both.
|
From the time of reaching the beleach between no.3 and Cairn Bannoch the weather gradually deteriorated, the wind strengthened and became moist, then we had hail and then light snow and it was either blowing directly or obliquely at us all the time - and windblown hail in your eyes really stings! This kept up until we were level with the loch, by which point we had lost enough height that the wind had moderated and there was a little more shelter from it. Photos do not show these conditions well and could only be taken in momentary respites.
When the path was re-established we found that it had been upgraded into a serious mountain-bike track. This was a bit of a scar on the landscape and quite hard under-foot, but it allowed for swift progress. |
Although the walking was straightforward and visibility remained good, weather conditions were so poor between Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn and beyond that no photos were taken at the summit of Broad Cairn. And then after the summit the path disappeared into a steep boulder field, which we had to navigate carefully. Astonishingly, having seen nobody since we left Lochnagar, a group of expert mountain bikers appeared and descended much of this boulder-field in the saddle.
|
Despite the poor conditions on the return stretch, and although Lochnager was by far the most spectacular of the 5, the views all around remained very good. By the time we reached the plateau high above the Loch conditions had improved and the views of the loch were splendid over the last 5-6km of the route.
Information signage - click on an image to enlarge