Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and The Devils Point Route Information

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Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine & The Devils Point

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

2220 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

11 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

35.67 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 (£13.49 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

Climbing is moderate but there is a lot of it. The centre km of the Lairig Ghru and the Chalamain Gap have significant boulder fields which will be hazardous in the dark.

The route is strenuous and long but rewarding. Not suitable for cycle access.

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

Proceed from Aviemore to Coylumbridge and follow the signs for the Cairngorm Funicular Railway.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 2,220 metres. Allow 11 hours to complete this 35.67 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 at carpark at bend in road to Ski Centre
		NH98520740	Distance	Altitude 468 m

1	Cross river by bridge an follow good path SW to Chalamain Gap
		NH96500524	Distance 3.43 km	Altitude 705 m

2	Descend SSW to Lairig Ghru and cross river
		NH95880374	Distance 1.76 km	Altitude 615 m

3	Ascend SW towards Coire Gorm
		NH95700318	Distance 0.59 km	Altitude 800 m

4	Ascend SE along East ridge of Coire Gorm to Sron na Lairge
		NH96550065	Distance 2.73 km	Altitude 1170 m

5	Continue SW on ascent ridge
		NH96180002	Distance 0.74 km	Altitude 1192 m

6	Continue W above Coire Bhrochain
		NH95440007	Distance 0.76 km	Altitude 1244 m

7	Bear SW to Braeriach
		NN95349992	Distance 0.19 km	Altitude 1296 m

8	Head SW following the Corrie edge to the Falls of Dee
		NN94239912	Distance 1.40 km	Altitude 1154 m

9	Continue SSW to top (1265m)
		NN93949828	Distance 0.81 km	Altitude 1265 m

10	Continue SW avoiding cliff edge to the East
		NN93869801	Distance 0.28 km	Altitude 1227 m

11	Follow corrie rim SSW
		NN94099759	Distance 0.48 km	Altitude 1161 m

12	Continue ESE following corrie rim
		NN94879744	Distance 0.81 km	Altitude 1163 m

13	Continue ENE to Sgor an Lochain Uaine (The Angel's Peak).
		NN95449768	Distance 0.62 km	Altitude 1258 m

14	Continue SE along corrie rim
		NN95959719	Distance 0.77 km	Altitude 1168 m

15	Follow corrie rim E to Cairn Toul
		NN96349720	Distance 0.39 km	Altitude 1291 m

16	Bear SW avoiding drop to Coire an t-Saighdeir
		NN96099677	Distance 0.49 km	Altitude 1147 m

17	Continue SSE to 1213m Top
		NN96189635	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 1213 m

18	Descend SE to the start of the descent path into Coire Odhar
		NN96929556	Distance 1.11 km	Altitude 930 m

19	Ascend SE to The Devil's Point
		NN97619511	Distance 0.84 km	Altitude 1004 m

20	Return NW to the descent path at the head of Corrie Odhar
		NN96929556	Distance 0.84 km	Altitude 930 m

21	Descend E on path down to Corrour Bothy
		NN98099579	Distance 1.20 km	Altitude 577 m

22	Head SE and cross river to meet path through Lairig Ghru
		NN98539557	Distance 0.63 km	Altitude 560 m

23	Bear NNW up Lairig Ghru
		NN97319928	Distance 4.06 km	Altitude 728 m

24	Follow path N passed The Pools of Dee to the highest point of the Lairig Ghru
		NH97400126	Distance 2.17 km	Altitude 835 m

25	Continue NE to junction with path to Chalamain Gap and follow approach route back to car park.
		NH98520740	Distance 8.13 km	Altitude 468 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Braeriach
by Metcheck

Images of Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine & The Devils Point

Looking south along the summit ridge to the south cairn on Cairntoul.

© Graham Young

Image by Graham Young

Temperature Inversion; Braeriach from the slopes of Ben Macdui - by Jason Baxter

© Jason Baxter

Image by Jason Baxter

Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Cairn Toul from Braeriach.

© Bill Wales

Image by Bill Wales

Approach from the Wells of Dee. Early May 2006.

© David Lee

Image by David Lee

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

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 6 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Iain Thomson on 05 Jun 2009:

We were lucky enough to do this route during the recent good weather and had two days of unbroken sunshine. It's a long slog though and the boulder strewn 'lunar' landscape from Braeriach to Sgor An Lochan Uaine was very wearing. In good weather the views were breathtaking. In poor conditions this route must be *very* difficult to navigate. The bothy at Corrour is small but in good order. Took us about 9 hours from the Sugarbowl to get there, then another 5 from Corrour to the Sugarbowl the next day along the Lairig Ghru. Hard work, but I'll remember the experience for a long time...

Written by Chris Ridley on 26 Jul 2007:

Climbed in from Achlean in Glen Feshie via the foxhunter path and thence onto the Moine Mor. The route to the end of the landrover track is straightforward, but beyond this is very indistinct and long. Easy ascent via west facing ridge to Einich Carn and along the ridge under poor weather conditions. Easy drops west make for simple descents, but be prepared for the long haul back across the Moine Mor which can be confusing in poor visibility.

Written by Allan Scott on 15 May 2007:

Walked in Via Chalamain Gap and Lairig Ghru, camped near corrour Bothy and started from Devils Point. This was a long and gruelling day. Visibility down to about 50-150 yards all day in snow (may 13th!!!) Fitness tested to my absolute limits and beyond. Boulder-fields on the ascents, made more difficult and dangerous under snow cover. Navigation hazardous to say the least. I'm sure this is a spectacular walk on a good day, but this wasn't it. Just got back to Chalamain gap as darkness fell, arrived at car 2330hrs a broken man. heavy packs and fitness levels are big issue here

Written by Peter Lang on 13 Jun 2006:

Cycled in and camped at Luibeg Bridge from Linn of Dee. Fine walk up Lairig Ghru to just before Pools of Dee and follow prominent burn into corrie and good stalkers path zig zags onto plateau S of 1184 spot height NE of Braeriach. Long circuit of spectacular corries over good ground and short sharp pulls onto Angels Peak, Cairn Toul and Devils Point before descending well maintained path to Corrour bothy and retrace route back to LB/Derry Lodge. Superb long day in June sunshine and strong winds roaring over corrie headwalls, foot weary from mileage underfoot rather than climbs. Excellent

Written by Neil Campbell on 16 Jul 2005:

I did it on 10/7/05, 11.5 hrs, warm but overcast pefect conditions, it's long route but enjoyable. There's been some path improvements at some points so it's not an ankle breaker all the way round. For me, the worst was the climb back to the Chalamain Gap and back to the car. All good fun tho' a walking pole is good for the big boulder sections.

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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