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
1122 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
10.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
41.56 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.
Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.
Notes
Easy route on easy to moderate slopes with short vegetation. N.B.Cycles can be used for much of the approach route.
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
From Braemar (A93) travel W on minor road sign-posted "Linn of Dee" continue on this road to the falls where the road crosses the River Dee.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,122 metres. Allow 10.5 hours to complete this 41.56 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 Linn of Dee, where there is roadside parking and a large carpark
NO06128972
Distance
Altitude 380 m
1
Head WSW on road to White Bridge
NO01888848
Distance 4.76 km
Altitude 405 m
2
Cross river and continue on road/track SW to junction
NO00498683
Distance 2.32 km
Altitude 435 m
3
Turn W and follow road alongside Geldie Burn
NN95848726
Distance 5.02 km
Altitude 510 m
4
Follow road SW past Geldie Lodge, continue to road end
NN92558567
Distance 4.30 km
Altitude 615 m
5
Ascend WSW to north ridge
NN90698533
Distance 2.08 km
Altitude 816 m
6
Ascend S to summit of Carn an Fhidhleir
NN90468419
Distance 0.52 km
Altitude 994 m
7
Head SSE to minor top (906m)
NN91098304
Distance 1.37 km
Altitude 906 m
8
Descend ESE to col
NN91678277
Distance 0.73 km
Altitude 790 m
9
Ascend NE on west ridge of An Sgarsoch to summit
NN93348366
Distance 1.89 km
Altitude 1006 m
10
Descend N along side stream
NN93198488
Distance 1.30 km
Altitude 730 m
11
Continue NW to rejoin approach route and return
NO06128972
Distance 17.28 km
Altitude 380 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
Like the idea of a more mobile base for your next Munro?
Fantastic, high quality, heated, 2-4 berth campervans for hire.
The perfect year-round base, freedom to choose where you go to get the most from the weather, and a cosy base to come back to after a great day on the hill!
Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 7 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
Ben Dolphin
on 30 Apr 2007:
It IS a long way but the walk to Geldie Lodge isn't too bad as it's easy under foot. I did An Sgarsoch first so I could descend Carn an Fhidhleir following the burn that is marked as starting at 910846. If the weather is good & dry I can't recommend this enough! The burn has solid grassy banks and you can follow it (waterfalls, lizards 'n' all) all the way to Geldie Burn, where it emerges into a huge expanse of flat grass and winding streams. I then followed the burn to Geldie Lodge, which involved back-tracking & hag-hopping but was well worth it. Best-avoided after heavy rain though.
Written by
Julian Stark
on 19 Jul 2005:
Cycled 21 miles, walked roughly 5 - took 6 1/2 hours in all. Cycle was a teeth-rattler and walk was easy but boring. Glad these are out the way - walking in would just prolong the agony. Glad just 2 Cairngorms to go - am a West Coast Mountain preferer!
As other comment said leave for a nice day - a rotten day would be the pits...
Written by
Kathleen Haddow
on 11 Jul 2005:
Def take the bikes for this! The track is easy going to Geldie Lodge, slightly harder work on the footpath with all the drainage ditches. We left our bikes at the high point on the path to climb an Sgarsoch first (very boggy on the lower slopes). The descent off Carn an Fhidhleir is very steep initially then there is a path lower down to the river. This continues on the opposite side of the water, but is wet and rough: better to stick to the river side, but both routes go back to the footpath that returns to Geldie Lodge.
Written by
Paul Acarnley
on 03 Jul 2005:
The route's reputation for remoteness was lost when 7 people in 3 different parties arrived at the first summit within a minute! Well, it was a Saturday in July. Worth waiting for a spell of dry weather. This is definitely not a bad weather alternative to the bigger peaks.
It's easiest to leave bikes at the Geldie Burn crossing, as the track beyond Geldie Lodge is now a footpath. Descending from An Sgarsoch it is possible to head N then NE to reach the burn which joins the Allt Coire an t-Seilich and so arrive directly at Geldie Lodge. There is a vague path next to the burn all the way.
Written by
john young
on 21 Jun 2004:
Did this in heavy rain with snow and sleet on the tops on June 19th! Cycling in is essential and you will definitely get your feet wet at both river crossings. When we did it, several parties turned back at the river crossing and it was worse on the return. The charm of these hills is their utter remoteness and company would be advisable. Rivers apart, there are no real problems with gentle ascents and descents. For an occasional cyclist like me the long approach can leave you tired and slow on the ascents and it took us longer than expected - nearly 11 hours.
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.
