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Home   Glossary
Ben MacDui Title Image
Meaning McDuff's hill
Altitude 1309 metres (4294 feet)      (Munro)
Grid Ref. NN98909894
 OS Landranger Maps Required   
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  36   Grantown & Aviemore, Cairngorm Mountains
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Ben MacDui
(Click to enlarge)

Ben MacDui viewed from A' Choinneach (Bynack More) with Loch Avon beneath. (2008-10-13)

© Kevin Woods

Image by Kevin Woods
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Mountain Description
The summit of the massive Ben MacDui is bounded to the W and SW by the steep slopes of the Lairig Ghru. There are routes up these steep slopes but they are not recommended. To the S lies a long ridge, which gives an easy ascent from Glen Luibeg. The western slopes of this ridge can be accessed from the N ridge of Carn a Mhaim. This route takes you up steep slopes onto boulder fields. To the east of this route and of the summit lie the precipitous cliffs of Coire Sputan Dearg, however a safe route E then NE leads down to Loch Etchachan. From the summit, gentle slopes run N to Cairn Lochan, and down through the crags of Coire an Lochain to the carpark at the ski centre, or NNE to the summit of Cairn Gorm.
Hazards you may encounter on Ben MacDui include
 Relatively Remote Mountain navigate with care.
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags within 1km of summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Available Routes
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1745 m 33.49 km 10 hrs Ben MacDui, Derry Cairngorm and Carn a' Mhaim  A long rewarding day which took 11.5 hrs to complete. Care is required when crossing the bouldery summits of Ben MacDui & Derry Cairngorm. A fine ridge walk from Carn a'Mhaim & Ben MacDui. A moderate although long route for the reasonably fit. 4 / 5
2 1520 m 29.09 km 8.5 hrs Ben MacDui  This is a long route requiring endurance, but the ascent is not difficult. The route time can be shortened by cycling to Derry Lodge. 3 / 5
Baggers Gallery Submit a Picture (M)

andrew law and eddie robb 10/05/09

© Andrew Law

Image by Andrew Law

Ben MacDui - Chris Mackinnon

© chris mackinnon

Image by chris mackinnon

Members of Stockton Rambling Club on BenMacdui Summit

© david kennedy

Image by david kennedy

Failing to get my leg over on Ben Macdui - 3 Jan 09

© Victoria Sheriff

Image by Victoria Sheriff

Top of Ben MacDui, 3 January 2009

© Lisa O'keefe

Image by Lisa O'keefe

Me, Tam and Craig at MacDui summit following a fantastic walm in incredible conditions, 12 Jan 2008.

© Michael Hill

Image by Michael Hill
Weather & Maps, etc ...
Links to the nearest available forecast to Ben MacDui.
Cairngorms
by Accuweather
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)
East Highlands
by Met Office
Ben Macdui
by Metcheck
View Location
(Detailed Ordnance Survey maps are available to registered users)
Proximity Search       
Enter a distance (1-99 km) to find other mountains in this area.
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Comments Submit A Comment (M)
Sam Barber
wrote on March 14, 2009:
Long circuit expedition from ski centre on a gloriously clear day. Bumped into some reindeer on the way to the plateau, easily gained Macdui to spectacular 360 views of the Lairig Ghru. With such weather Derry Cairngorm beckoned, and a deceptively quick descent to the bealach (looking back up it seems a LONG way to return!) led to a beautiful summit moment as the wind quietened and the serenity of the landscape sucked us in. Eschewing the slog back up to the McDui summit, we dropped into the glen between Macdui and Cairngorm and here saw some incredible cliffs, the gigantic mass of the plateau we had earlier traversed hewn along its flank, exposing the ancient strata. A brief scramble up a river gully and a 45 minute traverse brought us to the shoulder of Cairngorm, the summit temptingly close, but with the weather clearly about to change violently we reluctantly passed it by and returned down the spur to the ski centre. Awesome day.
Craig Anderson
wrote on September 10, 2008:
A good few years ago, whilst I was in the venture scouts, we did a '4 peaks challenge' for charity. The walk started in the ski centre car park, heading across the Chalamain pass towards the Lairig Ghru. Crossed over and up Braeriach. Round towards Angels Peak and Cairn Toul then descending down to Corrour Bothy. Next up Taillear's burn to Ben Macdui. Across plateau to Cairn Gorm and down to car park. Think it was 16-17 hours. In retrospect, should have included Devils Point, although I seem to recall being absolutely knackered by that point! Survived on Tesco's 'Kick' drink. Try it out!
George Greszczuk
wrote on May 4, 2008:
Route: Start/Finish: Corrour Bothy > zigzagged east up steep slopes to ridge N of Carn a' Mhaim > followed ridge to summit > retraced route N then up broad ridge SE of Allt Clach nan Taillear, swinging W to summit of Ben MacDui > Back E along FP to Creagan a' Choire Etchachan > S to summit of Derry Cairngorm > Down to Luibeg Burn > FP S then W back to Corrour Bothy Horizontal Distance Travelled: 20km Vertical Height Ascended: 1126m Time Taken: 9 hrs Weather: Dry, bright. Temperature: Warm. Wind: Light SE. Cloud base: Well above summits. Visibility: Great. Comments: Climbed as part of a long day on the hill one pleasant summer day. We were a party of two, based at Corrour Bothy for three nights. Terrific hill day!
Showing the latest 3 comments. There are 9 available to members.
Local Accommodation Options
Showing the nearest 10 of 43 within 100Km of the summit of Ben MacDui. Would you like to view all 43?
17.1 km Ravenscraig Guest House - Grampian Road, Aviemore, PH22 1RP   Tel: 01479 810278
17.8 km Dalmore House - Fife Brae, Braemar, AB35 5NS   Tel: 013397 41225
18.1 km Schiehallion House - 10 Glenshee Road Braemar, AB35 5YQ   Tel: 013397 41679
26.6 km Croft Holidays - Croft Dhu, Newtonmore, PH20 1BA   Tel: 01540 673504
27.0 km Creag Meagaidh - Creag Meagaidh, Main Street, Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, PH20 1DP   Tel: 01540 673798
27.3 km Craigerne House Hotel and Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop - Golf Course Road, PH20 1AT   Tel: 01540 673 281
37.8 km The Rumblie Guest House - The Rumblie, Gergask Avenue, Laggan, By Newtonmore, PH20 1AH   Tel: 01528 544766
65.9 km Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd) - Tulloch, Roybridge, PH31 4AR   Tel: 0131 225 4235
66.0 km Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd) - Tulloch, Roybridge, PH31 4AR   Tel: 0131 225 4235
67.6 km Drynachan Beag Bed and Breakfast - Drynachan Beag, Invergarry, Inverness-shire , PH35 4HL   Tel: 01809 501465
If you would like to have your accommodation listed on MunroMagic, please read our participation information page.
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