Cairngorms

An Socach is a rounded whaleback hill which can either be climbed quickly by a short route from Baddoch Farm, or via an alternative approach from Inverey and Glen Ey. A mostly rounded hill with decent going underfoot. The walk along the ridge is stony.

Munros lies between the Beinn a'Bhùird and Ben Avon massifs and the main mass of the High Cairngorms. Often overlooked, they are separated by the sprawling Moine Bhealaidh, a featureless plateau, but the pinewoods of Glen Derry provides a fine approach and the views are good.

Beinn Bhrotain and Monadh Mòr are well out of sight and probably out of mind from Glen Feshie. In good weather, however, they can be climbed via a long high-level traverse over the Moine Mhòr plateau. This route crosses a vast and featureless plateau at a high and is extremely exposed to bad weather and difficult to navigate in poor visibility.

Ben Avon is the easternmost of the High Cairngorms and its vast high level plateau sprawls over an area large enough for an entire hill range in the West Highlands. Its outstanding feature is the array of remarkable granite tors all over the plateau. Very exposed on the plateau with difficult navigation if cloud is down.

Bynack More is a prominent Munro, the northeastern cornerstone of the Cairngorms. It lacks any grand corries but is a magnificent viewpoint for northeast Scotland.

The walk from Cairn Toul to Braeriach follows the edge of a vast plateau around the Cairngorms' most spectacular corries. It is also exceptionally remote and arduous; many will break the route with an overnight stay at Corrour bothy. This can be approached either from the Linn of Dee to the south leaving a very long return, or via the Chalamain Gap from the Sugar Bowl car park on Speyside - the latter route making the traverse possible in a single epic day for the extremely fit. Rough paths to Corrour bothy (extremely rough boulder field in the Chalamain Gap) followed by a steep ascent to the plateau.

This southern pair of the four Munros on the west side of the Drumochter Pass are heathery hills rather than true mountains; the views, however, are good on a clear day. Mostly straightforward hillwalking, with wetter terrain lower down and good walking on mossy turf along the ridges. The descent from Beinn Udlamain is very steep and rough in parts

Rough going for much of the route; This long hillwalk includes ascents of three of the four Monadh Liath Munros. The hills themselves are undistinguished (particularly Càrn Sgulain), but Càrn Dearg has a feeling of remoteness and the long trek across the plateau from this peak to the others gives a feeling of great space, given favourable weather.

The Cairnwell is the most prominent of the group of three Munros on the west side of the Cairnwell pass. The Cairnwell and Càrn Aosda are made easily accessible but also scarred by the ski developments; Càrn a'Ghèoidh provides a wilder diversion.

These two Munros form the northeastern part the Black Mount range, rising above the head of Glen Etive opposite the better known Buachaille Etive Mòr . This route ascends via the White Corries ski slopes. Meall a'Bhùiridh appears rather undistinguished seen from Rannoch Moor but its elegant west ridge is revealed from Creise, itself the high point of a dramatic ridge running from Sròn na Creise in the north through Clach Leathad to Sròn nam Forsair.

A long and exposed mountain route; in good conditions the stony, tundra-like terrain makes for easy going. A long hillwalk taking in the five Munros on the extensive White Mounth plateau. Lochnagar is by far the finest of the summits, but in good weather this is all a hugely enjoyable round with a great feeling of space.

Rough going for much of the route; tracks lower down and featureless hills higher up. A line of fenceposts is an aid to navigating across the plateau. This long hillwalk includes ascents of three of the four Monadh Liath Munros. The hills themselves are undistinguished (particularly Càrn Sgulain), but Càrn Dearg has a feeling of remoteness and the long trek across the plateau from this peak to the others gives a feeling of great space, given favourable weather.

Burn crossing near the start can be impassable in flood. The ascent of the peak is straightforward, parts of this are eroded, another is boggy, final stretch a little overgrown. Glen Feshie makes a lovely approach to Mullach Clach a'Bhlàir, whose cairn stands towards the southwestern edge of the great Moine Mhòr plateau.

Well defined path for almost all the route, but there are many sections of easy scrambling on rough rocks with exposure. A long, exhausting day. The Ring of Steall is a real classic mountain route combining the traverse of four Munros with scrambling along narrow, rocky aretes. The route takes in An Gearanach, Stob Choire a Chàirn, Am Bodach and then follows the Devils Ridge to Sgùrr a'Mhaim.

Sgòr Gaoith gives a superb, fairly short hillwalk when approached from Glen Feshie. The ascent passes through some magnificent pinewoods before climbing the bare upper slopes to reach a vast plateau. The summit is extremely dramatic perched on the very edge of the vast broken crags that plunge down to Loch Einich; the views are superb.

Tolmount and Tom Buidhe are two of the least distinguished Munros, Tom Buidhe in particular being a rounded hummock in the centre of a vast rolling plateau. The approach via Loch Callater is long but probably the most scenic approach, with Tolmount from this direction at least having a conical shape and some craggy corrie scenery.

Ben Macdui is the second highest mountain in Britain. Approaching it from Speyside involves crossing the vast and exposed Cairngorm plateau, a rolling arctic wilderness and a popular route but requiring excellent navigation skills. Good paths on ascent and descent to plateau. The plateau itself is extremely exposed and tricky to navigate except in perfect conditions - particularly serious when under snow. 

This long hillwalk heads from the Linn of Dee heads up to Derry Lodge before climbing over the bald, stony summit of Derry Cairngorm. It then continues past the foot of Loch Etchachan to climb remote Beinn Mheadhoin with its majestic granite tours at the very heart of the wild Cairngorms. The return is down beautiful Glen Derry and through its pinewoods. Excellent approach tracks and hill paths, exposed boulder fields on Derry Cairngorm and rocky scramble to reach highest point of Beinn Mheadhoin. The return route down Glen Derry has potentially hazardous burn crossings.

This is a challenging route intended for experienced hikers. It involves significant off-trail sections with steep, uneven terrain, as well as boggy terrain. Ben Alder is one of the remotest of the Munros. A spacious plateau surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes, this is a mountain of memorable character and an almost palpable personality. The approach is enlivened by the dramatic Leachas ridges which offer some scrambling. Some pathless ground on approach and descent, and simple scrambling on the Long Leachas ridge. Descent from Ben Alder to the bealach is down a steep open slope; navigation could be difficult here and on the plateau. This route begins from Culra bothy; the walk in from Dalwhinnie to Culra is described separately. Culra bothy is closed due to the presence of asbestos so it is necessary to carry a tent and camp nearby