Lochnagar from the Spittal of Glenmuick

The walk starts from the Spittal of Glenmuick car park and makes a circuit. It passes Allt-na-giubhsaich and climbs to the col below Meikle Pap, then up the steep, stony slope called the Ladder. Above, it skirts the rim of the great northern corrie, among the finest in the Cairngorms, passing Cac Carn Mor (1,151 m) to the summit, Cac Carn Beag (1,156 m). You come down beside the Glas Allt falls to Glas-allt-Shiel, which has a small bothy, and return along Loch Muick. It is roughly half path, half track.

It is 19.8 km with 851 m of ascent; allow about 7 hours. The grade is Hard, mainly for the distance.

The plateau is exposed and the corrie edge is close to the path, so in mist you need map, compass and the judgement to turn back; check the forecast. In winter the plateau is arctic and cornices build over the corrie. There are no mapped water sources on the route.

The Spittal is at the end of the Glen Muick road from Ballater, and the car park charges a fee. The hill is part of the Balmoral estate.

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.