Cairngorm

Munro Count:
10

Accompanyment:
KP

Munro Stats:
Height
4242 ft - 5th highest!

Difficulty
4/10 - come on! You drive half-way up!!!

Enjoyment
8/10 - amazing cairn views at top. Wild reindeer too! Nice!!! Snow also great fun sliding down.

Route:
Parked up at the carpark (half way up the mountain - always a good start!) right by the ski-lifts. The books describe 2 routes. 1 crap-sounding route where you basically climb right by all the ski-lifts... nice! Or...

Turn around and walk back down the main road away from the ski-lifts as if you are heading back down the hill. Turn right at the first road (you drove down this as it's a one-way system). Walk for about 100m and you'll see a drain-like thing on your right. Now... there's the smallest of goat-paths on your right you have to find!!! It won't get into a big path for about 200m. Look up and you'll see a massive lonely boulder - the path gets big here.



It's a nice ascent on this path all the way to the Ptarmigan. We had some snow but only at the top of the ski-slopes.



Once at the top of the slopes there's a well made path that leads the way to the summit. Umpteen cairns lead the way to the summit next to a weather station.




We had cracking views all round although twas well windy and cold at the top so hats and gloves a must even for this - one of the shortest of climbs.



What a view!



Coming down was sweet! Soft snow for the feet & lots of sliding down action to be had if you don't mind getting a wet bum! And back at the carpark we weren't expecting to see wild reindeer... Nice!



Hints:
Pack warm

Timing:

Total time 3:00 all round (generous timing - we were going slowly)