Ben Avon by Gleann an t-Slugain from Keiloch

The walk starts at the Keiloch car park near Braemar and goes out and back. A lane leads past Invercauld House, and estate tracks follow Gleann an t-Slugain, passing the ruins of Slugain Lodge and Ciach Lodge, to the pass at the head of the glen called the Sneck. A path climbs from there onto the plateau and crosses it to the granite tor of Leabaidh an Dàimh Bhuidhe (1,172 m), the summit of Ben Avon. The line ends at the foot of the tor: the top itself is a short scramble over granite, and that is not part of the route. Return the same way.

It is 33.2 km with 912 m of ascent; allow about 11 hours. The grade is Strenuous: the glen is long, and the plateau is exposed and remote.

The plateau has few landmarks between the tors, so in cloud you need map, compass and the skill to use them, and the judgement to turn back; in winter this is a serious mountain day. The track and path cross many burns by fords, which can be hard to cross after heavy rain or snowmelt. This is Invercauld estate land, and the Heading for the Scottish Hills table gives stag stalking from early August to 20 October: see the notice.

The Keiloch car park is a pay car park (OpenStreetMap lists a fee).

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.