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Home   Glossary

Ben MacDui

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
1309 m (4294 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN98909894
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
2 of 283 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
McDuff's hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  36   Grantown & Aviemore, Cairngorm Mountains
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  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.
Picture Gallery for Ben MacDui

4000ers! (Cairn Toul on the left to Braeriach on the right, Angels Peak in the middle Ed.)

© Stephen Cormie
Image by Stephen Cormie

Looking towards Ben Macdui over the vast plateau on an amazing day at the end of September 2009

© Colin Barclay
Image by Colin Barclay

Looking across to Cairn Gorm on route to Macdui

© Stephen Cormie
Image by Stephen Cormie

Walking up the Lairig Ghru towards Braeriach, with Ben MacDui on the right.

© Bill Wales
Image by Bill Wales
View All 32 Images for Ben MacDui

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Cairngorms
by Accuweather 		East Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Macdui
by Metcheck
Ben MacDui Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
Results by distance from Ben MacDui
17.1 km
Ravenscraig Guest House
Grampian Road, Aviemore
18.1 km
Schiehallion House
10 Glenshee Road Braemar
18.2 km
Cranford Guest House
15 Glenshee Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshre
26.6 km
Croft Holidays
Croft Dhu, Newtonmore
27.3 km
Craigerne House Hotel and Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop
Golf Course Road
27.7 km
Eagle View Guest House
Perth Road Newtonmore
27.7 km
Netherwood House
Glen Road, Newtonmore
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
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The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Ben MacDui.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Ben MacDui
  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.  
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.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Ben MacDui

  Baggers Gallery for Ben MacDui

liz,Jean, graham & Iain at the cairn as the sun made a brief appearance. 9/02/2010

© donald brown
Image by donald brown

Top of Ben Macdui 10/10/09.

© Dave Smith
Image by Dave Smith

Graeme & Janet Weir at the summit of Ben Macdui in Sept 2009

© Janet Weir
Image by Janet Weir

Me, Tam and Craig at Ben Macdui summit in utterly spectacular conditions on 12 Jan 2008.

© Michael Hill
Image by Michael Hill
View All 25 Baggers Images for Ben MacDui
The logging section stores any entries for Ben MacDui in your own log. From here you can
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  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
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  Logging
Your Route Log
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Recently Climbed By
donald brown on 09 Feb 2010
Fiona Reid on 13 Dec 2009
Mike Watson on 12 Dec 2009
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Andrew Waddie on 31 Oct 2009
Peter Tindal on 12 Oct 2009
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Dave Smith on 10 Oct 2009
Ruth Macdonald on 08 Oct 2009
Robert Martin on 05 Oct 2009
John Mc gonagle on 05 Oct 2009
Simon Cole on 04 Oct 2009
John Monaghan on 27 Sep 2009
Colin Barclay on 26 Sep 2009
Graeme Weir on 26 Sep 2009
Janet Weir on 26 Sep 2009
Willie Jack on 20 Sep 2009
Stephen Ralph on 20 Sep 2009
Calum Rogerson on 16 Sep 2009
Elaine Brown on 02 Sep 2009
Jan Konstmann on 02 Sep 2009
Stevie Yates on 30 Aug 2009
Chris Stewart on 29 Aug 2009
Charlie Gallagher on 22 Aug 2009
Keith Noble on 22 Aug 2009
ken walker on 22 Aug 2009
Karen Todd on 21 Aug 2009
Tom Slater on 10 Aug 2009
Thom Brown on 08 Aug 2009
Gordon Miller on 02 Aug 2009
Alan Ross on 30 Jul 2009
Martin Briggs on 29 Jul 2009
Stephen Burnhill on 25 Jul 2009
Stephen Harte on 25 Jul 2009
Janice Wallace on 25 Jul 2009
Kevin Mckeown on 20 Jul 2009
John Stephen on 16 Jul 2009
Katherine & Gary Knowles/Thomson on 11 Jul 2009
Keith Noble on 11 Jul 2009
Rob Young on 11 Jul 2009
Murray Coutts on 04 Jul 2009
William Deans on 04 Jul 2009
Sylvia,ally pirie on 04 Jul 2009
Paul Taylor on 04 Jul 2009
John Darling on 27 Jun 2009
Neill Stewart on 26 Jun 2009
David Adams on 22 Jun 2009
Andrew Lindsay on 19 Jun 2009
Angela Ward on 16 Jun 2009
Gordon Green on 11 Jun 2009
Scott Halliday on 04 Jun 2009
Leif Findlay on 31 May 2009
Chris Mercer on 31 May 2009
Eddie Rafferty on 30 May 2009
JAMES HARPER on 29 May 2009
Deborah Mclean on 24 May 2009
Peter Sinclair on 24 May 2009
Gordon Spence on 23 May 2009
Grant Duff on 13 May 2009
chris mackinnon on 11 May 2009
Andrew Law on 10 May 2009
Kevin Mcpherson on 10 May 2009
Eddie Robb on 10 May 2009
Matt Sinclair on 09 May 2009
Dave Kydd on 22 Apr 2009
Julian Turner on 12 Apr 2009
George Fallis on 21 Mar 2009
Sue Gracie on 21 Mar 2009
Niall Meagle on 21 Mar 2009
Dianna Taylor on 18 Mar 2009
Stewart Balmer on 17 Mar 2009
simon savidge on 17 Mar 2009

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Ben MacDui and Cairn Gorm
by Jan Konstmann

Post a few words about Ben MacDui or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 10 comments. Would you like to view all 10?
Mike Watson
wrote on
December 14, 2009
Done as a ski tour in stunning conditions on the 12th of december 2009. Blue skis, plenty of snow and a temperature inversion! What more could you want!
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!
Martin Forbes
wrote on
May 4, 2008
Me and a friend climbed Ben Macdui combined with Cairn a Mhaim and Derry Cairngorm on the 03/05/2008. The journey was bodywrenching! souldrenching! (private joke) and the route was crazy to say the least. The 3 peaks were amazing, each providing spectacular views! However this is by far an easy trek taking just under 21 miles. 8 of which are over mountains! Although at the time my legs were unbearably sore and the journey seemed never ending. Looking back it was spectacular and i've pushed myself to things i never knew i was capable of.
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.

  Route Write-Ups
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