GM/ES-003 Cairn Toul & GM/ES-002 Braeriach

It was an excellent forecast for the Cairngorms, I had planned to do Cairn Toul for some time but decided to take advantage of the long days and good weather to push on to Braeriach. Early start, in the car at 5am local time and left Linn of Dee on my bike at 0645.
I left my bike about half way between Derry Lodge and Luibeg bridge, only 6.5km in but really saves time and very welcome on the way out!


Early morning at Luibeg Bridge

Route ahead left to right - Devil’s Point, Cairn Toul & Braeriach

Corrour Bothy

Nobody in by the time I arrived at 0845

Easy walking on the good path above Corrour

Ben Macdui from Devil’s Point

south from Devil’s Point

Next stop Cairn Toul

Summit of Cairn Toul

GM/ES-013 Carn a’Mhaim and the long ridge running north towards Ben Macdui

Sgor an Lochain Uaine (Angels Peak) with the Lochan below
and waterfall from Wells of Dee

Looking back to Cairn Toul

Lochain Uaine

Braeriach

Route round to Braeriach from Sgor an Lochain Uaine summit

Reindeer on the plateau near Wells of Dee

Wells of Dee, refill the water bottles!

Carn a’Mhaim, Cairn Toul & Sgor an Lochain Uaine

Busy on Braeriach

Route home down the ridge into the Lairig Ghru

Just got to get down to that path then the long walk out!

back along to Braeriach

route south along Glen Dee

North up Lairig Ghru

back to Devil’s Point and Corrour

Long walk back out, very glad to be on to my bike and the gentle downhill back to Linn of Dee car park. Took exactly 12 hours including the two activations, 43km total with 13km of that on bike.

Conditions seemed flat, stuck with 30m & 17m CW to avoid the IARU contest. Nice to manage 8 qso’s on 2m FM from Cairn Toul with 2m handheld and 1/2 wave whip.

Great day out in amazing weather,
73 Gavin
GM0GAV

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You’ve got better legs than me Gavin!

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Perhaps Andy, but your legs are definitely better than mine today! I gave you a call on 2m but nil heard

Great report Gavin.

Big day in big country. Well executed, fantastic photos in fantastic WX.
Lochain Uaine just looks as if it was created with an ice cream scoop!

Regards
David G0EVV

And better than mine! I was exhausted after 16km and 950m ascent on Beinn Fhionnlaidh!