SNOWTUNNELS, SCRAMBLING & SUNSHINE IN THE CAIRNGORMS

A fine view from the snow tunnel

Loch Avon basin

High snow!

Feithe Buidhe slabs and tunnels

Snow sculptured tunnel

Morning romp up Fiacaill Ridge

Hells Lum and Feithe Buidhe snow

Feithe Buidhe waterfall

Snow Tunnel and Hells Lum Crag

Shelterstone Crag from the snow tunnel

It was another grey kind of morning in The Cairngorms. With the promise of something brighter later on today I headed up onto the Fiacaill Ridge and across the Cairngorm plateau heading across the hills with no particular plan today. By mid day the sun started breaking through and it was a beautiful warm afternoon with very little wind. The view from the top of Hells Lum Crag is a favourite spot of mine for lunch and soaking in the fabulous view, one of the finest in the whole of the Cairngorm National Park. The big snow patch on the Feithe Buidhe Slabs lingers on well into the summer months and this year is no exception. Although the snow patches through out the big Highland Munros aren't as extensive or as deep as some years, they are still an impressive sight on our hills at this time of year. I scrambled down to the slabs and checked out the many snow tunnels which are created by the flowing water down the slabs. The back wall of the big snow patch is quite impressive too, well over 6 metres in height. Another lovely scramble between the snow patch and the Feith Buidhe brought me back onto the plateau and a nice stroll back across the hills in glorious afternoon sunshine. Watch out for Iain Camerons spot on this Sundays BBC TV programme, Countryfile. He'll be exploring these wonderful snow tunnels.