Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn Route Information

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Cairn Bannoch & Broad Cairn

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

1060 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

24.36 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

44	Ballater, Glen Clova & surrounding area

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

Easy route on paths and high moorland plateau.

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: Ballater

From Ballater (A93) travel S over River Dee and the SW to Bridge of Muick. From here take minor road (SSW) on east side of River Muick to its termination in a large car park at Spittal of Glenmuick.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,060 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 24.36 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 Spittal of Glenmuick Carpark
		NO31048510	Distance	Altitude 415 m

1	Head SSW on road/track towards building on the south shore of Loch Muick
		NO30048350	Distance 2.05 km	Altitude 420 m

2	Continue SW to Black Burn
		NO28848216	Distance 1.87 km	Altitude 479 m

3	Ascend SW (or remain on Loch side path until next junction bearing SW)
		NO25848084	Distance 3.85 km	Altitude 705 m

4	Continue NW on this long winding road onto Broad Cairn
		NO24298147	Distance 1.84 km	Altitude 930 m

5	Where the path turns SW, ascend W 250m to summit
		NO24058156	Distance 0.27 km	Altitude 998 m

6	Descend W to rejoin path and follow it W towards Cairn of Gowal (983m)
		NO22788166	Distance 1.32 km	Altitude 983 m

7	Follow the broad ridge NW to summit of Cairn Bannoch
		NO22288254	Distance 1.06 km	Altitude 1012 m

8	Return by same route, following path round Broad Cairn towards Corrie Chash
		NO25848084	Distance 4.48 km	Altitude 705 m

9	Remain on approach route OR descend through Corrie Chash to lochside path
		NO31048510	Distance 7.62 km	Altitude 415 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Cairn Bannoch
by Metcheck

Images of Cairn Bannoch & Broad Cairn

Looking towards Broad Cairn over a frozen Loch Muick on a crisp Febuary day in 2006

Image by Colin Barclay

The summit tor of Cairn Bannoch on the approach from Carn an t-Sagairt Mor.

Image by Graham Young

Loch Muick on the descent from Broad Cairn past the Dubh Loch on a January afternoon.

Image by Patrick Wildblood

Cairn Bannoch seen from Carn a' Choire Bhaidheach.

Image by Peter Chisholm

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

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 2 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Chris Bowles on 04 Sep 2007:

Instead of climbing just the two hills a fine circular route was made starting with Lochnagar from the Spittle of Glenmuick. After the climb of Lochnagar the walk becomes extremely easy going with very little re-ascent. The route covers 5 munro's the others being Carn a' Choire Bhoideach & Carn an t-saigairt Mor. Some of the climbs to the tops of these munro's is very insignificant but the views are excellent. The route is a long one however, approx. 32km and there is a walk back to the Spittle of some 9km from the last munro Broad Cairn.

Written by Scott Strathdee on 14 Apr 2007:

a nice walk with some great views good in winter

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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