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Home   Glossary
Cairn Gorm & Beinn Mheadhoin
Quick Facts
This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1841 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time
7 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
18.42 km
 

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 brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
Moderate route but with steep descent from Coire Raibeirt to Loch Avon. This is an interesting climb covering a variety of terrain and offering excellent views.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

 Travel Information

Head to: Aviemore

From Aviemore (B9152) follow the signs for Coylumbridge W on B970. From Coylumbridge take the road for Glemore Forest Park and the Gairngorm Ski Centre. This road takes you along the shores of Loch Morlich. Continue on the ski road to the upper car park where it terminates.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,841 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 18.42 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

 Route Information
Waypoint Detail
  Start from the Ski Centre Car park
  NH98940609 Distance
Altitude
626 m
1
Follow vehicle track SSW through ski tows into Coire Cas
NH99520497 Distance
1.53 km
Altitude
830 m
2
Ascend S onto Fiacaill a' Choire Chais ridge
NH99670427 Distance
0.72 km
Altitude
1010 m
3
Ascend SE to plateau, turning E to reach the summit of Cairn Gorm
NJ00560407 Distance
1.15 km
Altitude
1245 m
4
Bear SSW into Coire Raibeirt to join path
NJ00420299 Distance
1.13 km
Altitude
1005 m
5
Descend steeply SSE to Loch Avon
NJ00960219 Distance
1.05 km
Altitude
730 m
6
Follow path WSW towards Shelter Stone Crag and cross river
NJ00240162 Distance
1.14 km
Altitude
735 m
7
Continue SE on path
NJ00800126 Distance
0.73 km
Altitude
900 m
8
Leave path and ascend E to shoulder of Stacan Dubha
NJ01270131 Distance
0.49 km
Altitude
989 m
9
Ascend ENE to Beinn Mheadhoin and scramble to top of summit tor
NJ02470170 Distance
1.28 km
Altitude
1182 m
10
Reverse route to return but remain on path to bypass Cairn Gorm summit to the W
  NH98940609 Distance
9.21 km
Altitude
626 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)
Cairngorms
by Accuweather
East Highlands
by Met Office
Beinn Mheadhoin
by Metcheck
Images of Cairn Gorm & Beinn Mheadhoin
Route 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 the route start.
11.8 km
Ravenscraig Guest House
Grampian Road, Aviemore
22.1 km
Schiehallion House
10 Glenshee Road Braemar
22.2 km
Cranford Guest House
15 Glenshee Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshre
27.4 km
Croft Holidays
Croft Dhu, Newtonmore
28.2 km
Craigerne House Hotel and Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop
Golf Course Road
28.6 km
Netherwood House
Glen Road, Newtonmore
28.7 km
Eagle View Guest House
Perth Road Newtonmore
33.6 km
Crubenbeg House
Falls of Truim, Newtonmore,
38.6 km
Laggan Hotel
Laggan, Newtonmore
39.4 km
The Rumblie Guest House
The Rumblie, Gergask Avenue, Laggan, By Newtonmore
55.8 km
Highland Perthshire Lodges
Glenoulandie, Foss by Pitlochry, Perthshire
63.8 km
Muirhouses Farm B&B
Cortachy, Kirriemuir, Angus,
64.1 km
Fortingall Hotel
Fortingall, by Aberfeldy, PH15 2NQ
65.8 km
Drynachan Bed and Breakfast
Invergarry, Inverness-shire
66.0 km
The Cnoc Hotel
Struy, by Beauly,
68.3 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
68.4 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
68.9 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
69.2 km
Dunedin Croft
Dunedin, Cannich, nr Inverness
69.6 km
Westward
Cannich, Beauly, Inverness-shire
69.8 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
71.4 km
Tomich Holidays
Guisachan Farm, Tomich, Cannich, By Beauly
72.0 km
Tomich Hotel
Tommich, Cannich, Nr Beauly
73.5 km
Àite Cruinnichidh
1 Achluachrach, By Roy Bridge, Near Fort William, Inverness-shire
76.0 km
Dunhafen Bed and Breakfast
Glenspean Park, Roy Bridge, Inverness-Shire
80.1 km
Inverour Guest House
Roybridge Road, Spean Bridge
80.6 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
80.7 km
Glencaig self catering holiday cottage
No 6 Stronaba, Spean Bridge
81.1 km
Birch Cottage
7 Station Road, Garve
81.3 km
Garve Cottages
RoseMount Cottage Garve Ross-shire
84.0 km
CRAIGBUIE Guest House
Main Street, Killin
87.0 km
Achray House Hotel & Lodges
On Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire
88.4 km
Glenloy Lodge
Muirshearlich, by Banavie, Fort William
90.1 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
91.2 km
Clachan Cottage Hotel
Lochside, Lochearnhead
92.9 km
Suie Lodge Hotel
Glendochart, nr. Crianlarich
93.2 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
94.1 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
94.7 km
Leitters Farm
Balquhidder Station, by Lochearnhead
95.2 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
95.2 km
Glenaladale House B&B
Achintore Road. Fort William
98.0 km
Walkers Lodge, Ledgowan Lodge Hotel
Achnasheen, Achnasheen
98.7 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
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Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Ian Munro on 26 Jul 2009:
Wonderful route through the heart of the Cairngorm wilderness. Remember that from the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin, you have almost exactly the same amount of ascent and descent to get back to your car! Be prepared to cross the Feith Buidhe in bare feet. We crossed on a dry day in July and there was no way of crossing with dry boots unless you worked your way a few hundered metres upstream (and uphill). Loch Etchachan has the feeling of a remote mystical crossroads. This was one of the finest days I have had in the hills and it really killed the myth that the Cairngorms are not interesting.
 
Written by Martin Forbes on 21 Jun 2008:
This is a great route with amazing views. Loch Avon is simply amazing as you climb down the waterfall onto its shores. One thing you could have mentioned is that there is a restaurant on the way up (where the monorail is) and you can stop for a nice warm cup of tea/coffee before the hours of walking ahead.
 
Written by Peter Lang on 14 Jul 2005:
I included this in a circuit from glenmore lodge via Bynack More and over declassified munro (A'choinneach) before descending to outflow Loch Avon and easy ascent up initially grassy/stony slope giving way to stony ridge direct to Beinn Mheadhoin tors. Views superb all day especially into heart of cairngorms and shelter stone crags. Good descent past loch etchachan to shores Loch Avon ang good steep climb on good rocky steps to cairngorm plateau and eventual summit. descent via track to Coire Cas car park and previously stored bike for 10 min 1000ft descent to start point. Took 10 hours.
 
Written by Johannes Freund on 08 Oct 2003:
Done this tour with slight differences. Descend into Coire Domhain instead of Coire Raibeirt, including some mild scrambling. From Beinn Mheadhoin continue NNE to descend steeply to the northern shore of Loch Avon. Climbing Cairn Gorm from the saddle towards Cnap Coire na Spreidhe helps avoiding the ugly main top. You can even avoid going back to the skiing centre: follow the pass above Coire na Ciste (not on OS-map) to lower parking place. Walk back to the Loch Morlich area (if you've energy left) on the W-side of the road. Don’t try to find the path along the Allt na Ciste!
 
Written by William Bower on 19 Sep 2003:
Did this route mid Sept 03. The bowl at the head of Loch Avon really lives upto its name as the centre of the Cairngorms with very impressive scenery. Bit daunted about 400 M return climb up Coire Raibert but turned out to be a good scramble up the RHS of the burn. So much so had enough energy to visit minor top South of Cairngorm and Cairngorm summit itself.
 
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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