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Home   Back To Mountain Selection   Glossary
Ben MacDui, Derry Cairngorm & Carn a' Mhaim
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
1745 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
10 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
33.49 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
  43   Braemar & Blair Atholl
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
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.

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: Braemar - Hotels, caravan/campsite & Youth Hostel

From Braemar village, take the unidentified road West to the Linn of Dee. The National Trust car park lies 100m east of this point.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,745 metres. Allow 10 hours to complete this 33.49 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 large Carpark at Linn of Dee
  NO06368978 Distance
Altitude
380 m
1
Walk/cycle E to start of unsurfaced road
NO06808983 Distance
0.40 km
Altitude
366 m
2
Follow winding unsurfaced road NW to the junction with the path to Clais Fhearnaig
NO05809233 Distance
3.00 km
Altitude
425 m
3
Continue NW to Derry Lodge (where you may wish to leave your bike)
NO04059344 Distance
2.26 km
Altitude
425 m
4
Cross river and head WNW to Luibeg Bridge and continue W on path
NO01009387 Distance
3.92 km
Altitude
525 m
5
Ascend NE on steep slopes South of Coire na Poite to summit of Carn a' Mhaim
NN99459518 Distance
2.21 km
Altitude
1037 m
6
Head NNW on ridge to broad col (810m)
NN98709718 Distance
2.14 km
Altitude
810 m
7
Climb NE towards the summit ridge
NN99609859 Distance
1.70 km
Altitude
1232 m
8
Head NW to Ben MacDui summit
NN98909894 Distance
0.81 km
Altitude
1309 m
9
Descend E over boulders towards Coire Sputan Dearg to join path
NN99879881 Distance
1.17 km
Altitude
1158 m
10
Follow path NE towards Loch Etchachan
NO00809967 Distance
1.05 km
Altitude
1041 m
11
Descend SE then ascend SSE to Derry Cairngorm summit
NO01729804 Distance
1.97 km
Altitude
1155 m
12
Bear SSE to Carn Crom
NO02589548 Distance
2.79 km
Altitude
860 m
13
Descend SE to path
NO04009356 Distance
2.70 km
Altitude
430 m
14
Return to Derry Lodge, then S to start
  NO06368978 Distance
7.38 km
Altitude
380 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
Ben Macdui
by Metcheck
Images of Ben MacDui, Derry Cairngorm & Carn a' Mhaim
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.
9.1 km
Schiehallion House
10 Glenshee Road Braemar
9.1 km
Cranford Guest House
15 Glenshee Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshre
9.1 km
Craiglea Bed & Breakfast
Hillside Road, Braemar. Aberdeenshire
31.1 km
Granite Cottage
Nethy Bridge
31.9 km
Balneden Steading
Tomintoul, Ballindalloch
35.5 km
Croft Holidays
Croft Dhu, Newtonmore
36.3 km
Eagle View Guest House
Perth Road Newtonmore
36.4 km
Netherwood House
Glen Road, Newtonmore
38.3 km
Crubenbeg House
Falls of Truim, Newtonmore,
40.4 km
The Haugh Holiday Cottage
Glenesk, Angus
44.4 km
Laggan Hotel
Laggan, Newtonmore
45.5 km
Highland Perthshire Lodges
Glenoulandie, Foss by Pitlochry, Perthshire
53.5 km
Fortingall Hotel
Fortingall, by Aberfeldy, PH15 2NQ
71.4 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
71.4 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
74.3 km
Drynachan Bed and Breakfast
Invergarry, Inverness-shire
74.9 km
CRAIGBUIE Guest House
Main Street, Killin
75.2 km
Achray House Hotel & Lodges
On Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire
76.9 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
77.0 km
Àite Cruinnichidh
1 Achluachrach, By Roy Bridge, Near Fort William, Inverness-shire
77.9 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
83.4 km
Westward
Cannich, Beauly, Inverness-shire
84.0 km
The Slaters Arms
Cannich
84.1 km
Distant Hills Guest House
Roy Bridge Road, Spean Bridge
84.3 km
Tomich Holidays
Guisachan Farm, Tomich, Cannich, By Beauly
84.4 km
Leitters Farmhouse
Balquhidder Station, by Lochearnhead
84.6 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
84.7 km
Tomich Hotel
Tommich, Cannich, Nr Beauly
85.5 km
Glencaig self catering holiday cottage
No 6 Stronaba, Spean Bridge
88.3 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
92.6 km
Glenloy Lodge
Muirshearlich, by Banavie, Fort William
93.6 km
The Crianlarich Hotel
Crianlarich
94.0 km
West Highland Lodge
Crianlarich, Perthshire
94.0 km
Aros Beag
Tyndrum
94.0 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
94.4 km
Glengarry House
Tyndrum
96.2 km
Coorie Doon
Old Banavie Road, Banavie, Fort William
96.3 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
97.2 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
97.7 km
Calluna
Heathercroft, Fort William, PH336RE
97.8 km
Birch Cottage
7 Station Road, Garve
98.1 km
Garve Cottages
RoseMount Cottage Garve Ross-shire
98.2 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
99.9 km
Glencoe Independent Hostel
Glencoe, Nr Ballachulish, Argyll
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 8 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Mike Watson on 16 May 2008:
Definitely one for good weather as it enters some wild parts of the cairngorms with associated good views and nav issues. A bike + camping at Derry Lodge recommended so you can then do Beinn Bhreac & Beinn a' Chaorainn the next day and avoid a separate cycle/walk in.
 
Written by Martin Forbes on 04 May 2008:
Managed in 10 hours, this route is extremely tiring! and not for the inexperianced climber like me. If i had a gun up there I would have shot myself, as even after you completed all 3 munros, the journey was far from over, still having to scale several other smaller peaks to get down, and then the 6/7 mile walk back to the car. All the same great route, excellent views and a brilliant day out! Many Thanks
 
Written by Alan Wilson on 10 Oct 2007:
I combined these hills with Beinn Bhreac and beinn a chaorainn across the glen...going anti clockwise so finishing on derry cairngorm...a long but rewarding day out, taking a bike as far as Beinn Bhreac makes it possible in an 8 hour push (truck to truck)...best part was the descent from Beinn Mheadhoin to Loch Etchechan...a green jewel on the day...great views also from the boggy Moine into Coire Etchechan...
 
Written by Peter Lang on 13 Jun 2006:
Cycled in, Camped near Luibeg Bridge for weekend, small, excellent path leaves route to Lairig Ghru once levels out on shoulder of Carn a'Mhaim. Summit just over 1hr from LB and good gradient descent to bealach with fine views of LG/Braeriach. Path up bouldery pavement, quickly rock hops you onto MacDhui plateau, then 15 mins to prominent trig point and nearby view indicator (assuming last 100m not in cloud!!) Head E to crags and descend to col,skirt Creagan a Choire Etchachan and easy ascent over rocks to Derry Cairngorm, descend on heather SW before Carn Crom reach good path back to LB.
 
Written by Scott Niven on 12 Jul 2004:
A friend and I took this route on a relatively nice day down in the glens, but in thick cloud by the time we hit the tops. Carn a' Mhaim is a great ridge to walk along - airy enough, but not technically difficult. The climb over the boulders to summit Ben Macdui was arduous in the mist and wind, and finding the summit marker took some time. Gaining a track down from the summit took us a few tries, and eventually we chose to leave Derry Cairngorm and drop down over the boulders to Allt Carn a' Mhaim. A challenging walk, but more satisfying in clear weather I feel! Worth biking to Derry Lodge.
 
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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