BEN MACDUI & CAIRN GORM BY THEIR FINEST ROUTES

Kirsty & Jason enjoying the scrambling along the Fiacaill Ridge

A fine day for the Fiacaill Ridge

Enjoying the exposure

Nearly there!

Cairn Toul - Braeriach plateau from near the summit of Ben Macdui

Not a bad lunch time view

How could you dare walk past this when heading to Ben Macdui?

Shelterstone Crag from top of Hells Lum

Loch Avon Basin & Beinn Mheadhoin

Jason celebrating on our way to Cairn Gorm

Looking back at the Fiacaill Ridge

HellsLum Crag & Cairn Gorm in the distance

Coire an t-sneachda

Kirsty & Jason were out with me back in January on a two day winter course. Their planned second day was dire weather with 100mph + winds on the tops so we re arranged another suitable date for them. They chose today in the hope of some kinder weather and they came up trumps. With virtually wall to wall sunshine it was a great day to explore the Cairngorm plateau. They are working their way through the Munro summits with Ben Macdui & Cairn Gorm still to bag. I came up with a route that is (probably) the best way to get the two hills and see some of the finest features of the area. The Fiacaill Ridge onto the plateau is a wonderful, easy scramble to kick off the day. Their first taste of scrambling and they were soon enjoying the good holds and brilliant exposure. Walking across the plateau there are stll a few large areas of snow lingering across from Cairn Lochan to Ben Macdui but it was all soft in the blazing sun and we had only very light winds. It was much cooler than of late with very clear air. We couldn't believe how quiet it was on the hill, we saw just a couple of folk on the descent from Macdui. Of all the thousands of people who walk up to Macdui there must be a tiny fraction of them that make the easy detour to take in the jewel of the Cairngorms - The view of the Loch Avon Basin from the top of the Garbh Uisge Beag. Secret Britain? Pulling ourselves away from this beautiful spot we headed over the Northern Corries enroute to the final Munro summit of Cairn Gorm. A top day out and a day to remember for Jason and Kirsty.