BEN MACDUI GUIDED WALKING

 

Enroute to Ben Macdui 

Ben Macdui is an obvious and popular walking objective for many hillgoers in the Cairngorms National Park. I regularly guide folk on the UKs second highest mountain throughout the year. The 'standard ' route to the summit from the Coire Cas carpark to the north isn't particularly interesting and can get busy. You can enjoy far better views, scenery and wildlife by taking a more adventurous route. For many of my guided groups I always offer this, especially if the weather is kind. Which it was this week!

SATURDAY 4 JUNE 

I was joined by Julie and Pauline who were keen on one of my favourite routes to Ben Macdui. A fabulous weather day with wall to wall sunshine,  warm and no wind.  Perfect conditions. 

Enjoying the peace

One of the highlights

The Loch A'an basin

Cool waters of the Feithe Buidhe 

We made our way to Macdui via 1141m, Stag Rocks, Feithe Buidhe and Uisge Beag. Terrific views and so quiet.

Remaining snow on Macdui's North top

Remote and pathless

The summit of Ben Macdui 

There are still some areas of snow around. Usually more this time of year. We eventually came across more human beings once we reached Ben Macdui 's summit. 

Look who we met, Clare and Emma . 

It was nice to bump  into Clare Hartley who was on our Patagonian Icecap expedition in 2016.  Clare and her sister, Emma and friend were out for a few days backpacking In the area.

We escaped the crowded summit and sat for lunch at the finest viewpoint from Ben Macdui (its not at the trig point).

The best view is here

Descending the voie normal

Late afternoon light in Coire an Lochain

Dwarf Cornel

A top day with two lovely folk. 

I had a quick coffee and dinner back at the Coire Cas carpark ( home cooked) before heading back up the hill for an overnight bivvy. The weather is so good who can't resist getting back up again?

Sundown at 1141m

Of course at this time of year you could very easily walk without a torch. We made a liesurley walk over to a lovely viewpoint of mine in readinrss for dawn the following day. 

The purist form of spending a night out on the mountains is bivvying. A basic shelter, just a big sleeping bag without any insulation really.

SUNDAY 5 JUNE

Sunrise on Carn Etchachan 

The light constantly changing as the sun rose

The Shelterstone in golden morning light

There was a orange glow on the Eastern horizon at 2am. Dawn in June arrives very early. I was up to photograph the stunning light on Carn Etchachan & The Shelterstone Crag. 4.3am and the granite came alive with a golden glow. Wonderful. 

Snow 

Feithe Buidhe slabs

After an hour of dawn photography we explored all my favourite places in the Cairngorms. A beautiful warm day again. Peace and tranquility amongst the Cairngorm Corries, crags and waterfalls. 

A fabulous place

Shelterstone Crag 

Loch A'an

MONDAY 6 JUNE

On Ben Macdui again with Nichola who wanted to 'bag' Ben Macdui by a more scenic route. Another warm and sunny day was enjoyed again.

Coire an Lochain 

Locals out numbering the locals 

Poser

We made our way across the plateau and once again walking on pathless,  scenic and quiet routes to the summit. 

Best views

Nichola notching up another Munro 

Fun on the snow

Time for a paddle

It was a much quieter day with just one or two folk on the summit area of Ben Macdui. 

TUESDAY 8 JUNE

Yet more warm conditions. Tuesday 7th June.

Another glorious and warm day in Strathspey. Fabulous Summer sounds and sights in the Monadhliath today. I seemed to be surrounded by many Golden Plover. Another mountain and moorland ground nesting bird.

Golden Plover

Round leaved Sundew

Birds Foot Trefoil

The Cloudberry is also in abundance, so much so I found it hard to avoid walking on these beautiful plants. Hopefully a good crop of berries come July & August, yummy 😋. 

Could well be the last beautiful day for a while.

Cloudberry 

Lots of it

Blue skies again 

Bog Cotten

The call of the Golden Plover

THURSDAY 8 JUJY

A definite drop in temperatures today , up high on the Cairngorms. A Southerly wind brought a Bank of huge cloud which capped the high Cairngorms.  A stiff wind by late afternoon but the tops cleared and some sunshine. 

Clouds lifted later

Trailing Azaelia 

Beautiful and abundant this year

The Trailing Azaelia is absolutely beautiful and abundant this year. One of my favourite flowers.

Unfortunately only 1 Ptarmigan spotted today. Sadly I spotted a mass of Ptarmigan feathers in 2 locations. No doubt predation. Both of these locations were definitely adult featheres. 

Ptarmigan are sadly now on the Red List of endangered birds. Within the relitively short time of 10 years I have been living in the area I have seen Ptarmigan numbers dramatically decline. 

Looking unseasonably chilly and unsettled this next few days. You'd better put those shorts away. Long keks and big gloves again.

Beinn Mheadhoin 

Northern Corries 

TORRIDON & FISHERFIELD FOREST

 

Slioch reflections

June has got off to a cracking start with the weather.  A week of almost unbroken, warm sunshine and very little wind high up. I've been guiding up in Torridon and back home in The Cairngorms this last 7 days or so. Here's my usual catch up in words and images. 

WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE

Fiona & Natalie had booked me for one day of guiding in the Torridon area. One day is not enough of course! With stunning weather the ladies couldn't decide what would be a good introduction. So after a chat in the morning we settled on Beinn Alligin. 

Fiona enjoying The Horns of Alligin 

The Horns of Alligin, easily avoided 

Late afternoon light

The morning sun disappeared just has we reached Tom na Gruagach. 

What a view

Descent from Sgor Mor

Baoshbhain 

By the time we were heading up to Beinn Alligins second Munro summit, Sgor Mor,the skies were starting to brighten up and the sun breaking out again. 

Natalie loving the ridge walking 

Liathach in sight

Fabulous 

Descending into Coire Mhic Nobuil

We had the Horns of Alligin and the rest of the day to ourselves.

Beinn Dearg

Sgor Mor

Late afternoon is always my favourite time of day. A stunning traverse of the Horns in sunny weather. 

THURSDAY 2 JUNE

Another beautiful morning in the NW Highlands. I fancied a good romp in the Fisherfield Forest from Kinlochewe. There are many access points to get into this area, regarded has the most remote in these isles.

Slioch (The Spear)

On Beinn Tarsuinn's fabulous ridge

It is very easy walking from Kinlochewe to Loch Fada, much of the 10km is on an easy angled 4 wheel drive track. The only people I saw were 2 folk on thos motorbikes, otherwise known as e-bikes. A bike does help but I did pass the same 2 people later up the track so is it worth the hassle? I'll let you ponder that one.

The summit of Beinn Tarsuinn looking across to An Teallach 

The clarity of air was superb. The Northerly airflow bringing superb light for the photographer. I marvelled at the stunning reflection of Slioch in one of the lochans.

Slioch is often  photographed from Loch Maree side. Very few images are seen from this wilder side of the mountain. You get to see how Slioch ( The Spear) gets it's name.

My aim for today was two of the finest peaks in the Fisherfield Forest. Beinn Tarsuinn & A' Mhaigdean. After the long descent off Beinn Tarsuinn the shower clouds came over. I watched  a beautiful rainbow emerge.

Rainbow 

I was hoping to capture a sunset image from A' Mhaigdean but it's a long way back to Kinlochewe and sunset these days is way after 10pm. So I setoffon the return  just has another big shower set in.

Slioch with the ridge of Beinn Righe distant 

Darkening skies and another shower 

It seemed a long walk back beside Loch Fada. I thought the clouds had set in for the night but by 10pm it was going to be a fine sunset.

Sunset over the Fisherfield Forest