Munros Tables SMC Cairngorms, Lochnagar, Mounth - SMC

 The Scottish Highlands


Cairngorms
The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland The Cairngorms


A ski ascents from Glen Feshie of Sgor Gaoith and across the Mhoine Mhor

 
to the remote Munro Monadh Mor in the Cairngorms


Mhoine Mhor ( The Great Moss )

Mhoine Mhor ( The Great Moss )

" Ski-ing the Munros "

 

Snowbound summit cairn of Monadh Mor on the Cairngorm Plateau

Snowbound summit cairn of Monadh Mor






Sgor Gaoith

Sgor Gaoith





Sgor Gaoith

Sgor Gaoith





Sgor Gaoith

Sgor Gaoith





Sgor Gaoith

Sgor Gaoith






Sgor Gaoith

Sgor Gaoith




Loch Einich from Sgor Gaoith

Loch Einich from Sgor Gaoith





Loch Einich from the Cairngorm Plateau

Loch Einich

from the Cairngorms Plateau



Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith




Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith




Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and Braeriach

in the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith





Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith





Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith





Cairngorms Plateau

 Cairngorms Plateau





Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau from Sgor Gaoth

Loch Einich and the Cairngorms Plateau

from Sgor Gaoith




Sgor Gaoth

Sgor Gaoith





Beinn Bhrotain in the Cairngorms

Beinn Bhrotain in the Cairngorms





Map of Mhoine Mhor and Monadh Mor in the Cairngorms Massif

Map of Moine Mhor and Monadh Mor in the Cairngorms Massif



Map of Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain in the Cairngorms Massif

Map of Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain in the Cairngorms Massif




MONADH MOR & BEINN BHROTAIN - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-


Location: Cairngorms
Map: OS Landranger 43
Distance: 16 miles (26km)
Time: 8-10 hours
Terrain: Long, serious mountain walk

Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain rise on the southeast periphery of the atmospheric Moine Mhor, an expanse of stony ridge and hollows of turf and moss. It’s a favourite feeding place of red deer and reindeer and a haunt of Arctic-type birds like ptarmigan, snow bunting and dotterel.
Moine Mhor offers solitude, green rather than grey, a soft pearl in a crown of hard diamonds. Its acres flow south from the Sgurans and the head of Loch Einich and over Mullach Clach a’Bhlair to upper Glen Feshie.
Bounded on the east by the huge swells of Monadh Mor and Cnapan Mor, its peat-hag ridden heartland is gnawed deep by the River Eidart, a tumultuous watercourse fed by some of the highest burns in the country.
Climb up from Glen Feshie, following a footpath up Coire Ruaclh and on to the broad col between Sgor Gaoith and Carn Ban Mor to access the remote Munros of Monadh Mor, 1,113m, and Beinn Bhrotain, 1,108m, returning to Glen Feshie by the old foxhunter’s path to Achlean.
It’s a big day — about 16 miles of hard walking.
Below Sgurr Gaoith, Loch Einich fills a cliff-girt hollow. Opposite, wind-scoured corries pockmark the dome of Braeriach, the UK’s third highest mountain. Beyond lies the squarecut profile of Cairn Toul, the fifth highest hill in the land. Easing itself south from these landmarks the Moine Mhor forms an addendum to the high tops of the Cairngorms. The result is an area that is neither moorland nor mountain, but a mixture of both, a shallow basin in the cusp of Carn Ban Mor, Mullach Clach a’Bhlair and the diminutive top of Tom Dubh.
Beyond Tom Dubh's dumpy profile lie Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain.
From Tom Dubh climb the slopes of Monach Mor to its  whaleback ridge and take a path to the summit cairn. The highest point is about halfway along the ridge. From there the path leads to a subsidiary top then down steep slopes to a bealach.
From there, steep boulder-covered slopes finally led to Beinn Bhrotain.
The local name of this high pass has led the mountaineer and ecologist Dr Adam Watson to question the assumed translation of the great corrie that falls from the pass into Glen Geusachan. Most authorities suggest Coire Cath nam Fionn means the corrie of the battle of the Fingalians, the warriors of the Celtic hero Fionn Macumhail, but if the corrie is named after the bealach above it, as would seem likely, then it’s simply the corrie of the pass of the Fingalians, and nothing to do with a battle. The Fingalian link is probably authentic, as Beinn Bhrotain is the hill of Brodan, the jet-black hound of Celtic mythology.



Route:
Start and finish at the Red Burn car park in Glen Feshie (GR: NH852012)
Follow the path that climbs through the woods beside the Alit Ruadh and high into Coire Ruadh.
Where the footpath stops a more sketchy path climbs the corrie to the shallow bealach between Sgor Gaoith and Cam Ban Mor.
From here head SE, past the head ol Coire Odhar and views of Loch Einich and continue to Loch nan Cnapan.
Continue just S of E, skirting Allt Luineag to the high ground above Loch nan Stuirteag.
Head S on to the ridge that leads to the summit ot Monadh Mor.
Walk past the summit, descend to Cadha nam Fiann and climb steep rocky slopes to the summit of Beinn Bhrotain.
Return the way you came but head slightly S of Loch nan Cnapan to pick up a bulldozed track.
Follow the track tor just over a kilometre until it takes an obvious bend to the left.
Leave it here and continue due W, over Meall Dubhag and down its NW slopes to the pine woods of Baden Mosach.
Follow the path to Achleen.




Map of the Cairngorms Massif

Map of the Cairngorms Massif



Map of Sgor Gaoith in the Cairngorms Massif

Map of Sgor Gaoith in the Cairngorms Massif




SGOR GAOITH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-


Location: Strathspey
Map: OS Landranger 36
Distance: About 11 miles (13km)
Time 6-8 hours
Terrain: Long mountain trek

Head for the Sgorans ridge, the long arm that drops down from the heights of the Moine Mhor, the Great Moss, to the pinewoods of Rothiemurchus.
Not long ago, Munrobaggers could collect up to five Munros in the close vicinity of Sgoran Dubh Mor but various reappraisals over the years have chopped that total to one, Sgor Gaoith, at 3,668ft (1,118m).
Nevertheless, the climb on to the Great Moss and a traverse of the ridge between Sgor Gaoith and Sgoran Dubh Mor, high above the trench of Loch Einich, is always a good outing The traditional access to the Great Moss and the Sgorans ridge was by the Foxhunters' Path from Achlean in Glen Feshie, an old route named after a family of fox-hunters called Clark who once lived here. But Achlean is a working farm and so walkers are now encouraged to begin their route at the foot of the Alli Ruadh, at a parking area built by Forest Enterprise near the hostel at Balachroick (GR NH1853013). This alternative starting point offers the opportunity of a marvellous circular route that climbs to Sgoran Dubh Mor via its outliers of Creag Mhigeachaidh and Geal Charn. The ridge is then followed south to Sgor Gaoith then on to the broad, empty plateau of Cam Ban Mor before returning to the starting point by the delightful and rarely walked Carn Ban Beag ridge. It's a route that cuts out the long, dreary plod from Achlean
and instead offers a fine blend of natural pine woods, broad high-level ridges and dramatic views into the depths of Gleann Einich.
Climbing up through the old pine-woods above Glen Feshie, far below are the waters of the Allt Ruadh on approaching the narrow bealach below Creag Mhigeachaidh, a hill that boasts the highest natural tree-line in Britain,  and climbing the steep, shifting screes on to the old Munro of Geal Charn.
A broad, bumpy ridge carries on to the Sgorans ridge and a final steep climb to the huge summit cairn on Sgoran Dubh Mor, a big hill in itself that feels dwarfed by the enormous mass of Braeriach, Britain’s third highest mountain, across Gleann Einich. S
teep crags drop into Gleann Einich from the high ridge to Sgor Gaoith. The summit cairn sits on the very edge of this precipice and you can gaze down the shear buttresses and crags into the black waters of Loch Einid, almost 2,000 feet below.
In comparison to the airy spaciousness of Sgor Gaoith, Carn BanMor is wide and sprawling, its cairn a mere dot in a vast expanse of empty tundra. Return to the hill's long north-western ridge before the steep descent through the luxuriant undergrowth of the Allt Ruadh pinewoods.


Route:
Start / finish at the car parking area in Gen Feshie (GR NN853013).
Follow the track E through the forest.
After a kilometre the track leaves the forest and beqins to climb pine-covered slopes above the Allt Ruadh.
Follow the track to just above the Allt nam Bo to where it begins to turn back on itself.
A faint path now runs through the heather in a NNE diraction to the bealach just E of Craig Mhigeachaidh.
Climb the scree-covered slopes of Geal Gharnn and follow its broad ridge over the subsidiary tops to a point just SW of Sgoran Dubh Mor.
Climb to the summit then follow the ridge S to Sgor Gaoith and Carn Ban Mor.
Descend W now to follow the long ridge to Carn Ban Beag.
Descend by the Allt an Lochain back to the Allt Ruadh.


<< Back : Eastern Highlands : Next >>



Scottish Peaks :: Scotland Index :: Scotland Walks

Knoydart :: Glencoe :: Ben Nevis:: Isle of Skye :: Isle of Arran

NW Highlands :: Southern Highlands :: Central Highlands


Worldwide Mountaineering :: Adventure Travel :: Site Index

fb icon google+ icon  Linkedin icon  twitter










Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Knoydart, Loch Hourn, Loch Duich - OS Explorer Map Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn - OS Landranger Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road MapSouthern Scotland OS Road Map



Knoydart to Morven West Highlands NW Highlands SMC Knoydart, Skye, Wester Ross - West Coast Walks

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet  Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland
 Pathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe Glencoe Rock & Ice ClimbingThe Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Munros and Tops The Corbetts - SMC Munros & Corbetts Chart The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Munro Almanac

The Munros - Scotland's highest mountains Call of the Corbetts Magic of the Munros Hamish's Mountain Walk The Munros in WinterMy Scotland by Hamish MacInnes

Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes 50 More Routes on Scottish Mountains The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Scotlands 100 Best WalksScottish Mountains - 100 Best RoutesBig Walks of Great Britain Classic Walks in Britain & Ireland

Scottish Hill & Mountain Names Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayMore Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks 2 - Video Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

Ski Touring in Scotland Scrambles in Lochaber Rock Climbing in ScotlandRock Climbing SkillsThe FACE: Six Great Climbing Adventures Ben Nevis: Rock & Ice ClimbsGreat Snow & Ice Climbs of the British Isles100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains One Man's Mountains - Tom Patey

A Mountaineer's Tale - W.H.Murray Dougal Haston: Philosophy of RiskThe Glens of Rannoch Southern Highlands - MapNorthern Highlands Central Highlands West Highlands Central Highlands SMCNW Highlands SMC

Central Highlands: Six Long Distance Walks West Highland Way: Official Guide West Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map 100 Hillwalks around Glasgow

Scotland - Lonely Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandLonely Planet - Walking in Britain

50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands 100 Walks in Scotland Visit Scotland - Touring GuideScotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Hillwalker: The MunrosHillwalker: The Corbetts

Weather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders Hillwalkers Manual Hillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering First Aid on Mountains









Google Analytics







Google Analytics



extremetracking
 eXTReMe Tracker


extremetracking
Sitelock caingram.com
SiteLock
Sitelock
Sitelock caingram.info
SiteLock
Sitelock