Stunning Broad Cairn Circuit on a very hot day

Hill: Broad Cairn (998m) Cairn Bannoch (1012m) (Hill of the cake)

Type: Munro x2

Another glorious day forecast and my only decision was whether to do a 2 or 3 Munro outing. Over breakfast I decided the double would do as I wanted to ascend the 3^rd from a different direction to try to find some of the plane wreckage on the hill.

So after brekkie I headed for Spittal of Glen Muick. Arrived just before 9 to the large car park but it was rammed already, only space for 3 cars, I took one and before I set off the other two were bagged. It is £5 to park but the machine only takes cash I did not have enough coin. The ranger office will accept cards. But it is a bit away and a fellow walker said it was closed so left a note saying I would pay on my return!

Walking along Loch muick

There is a long walk alongside Loch Muick to get you started but a strong breeze so nice temperature.

Zig zags on the slope ahead

As you walk the the track steep zig zag ascent comes into view, that will draw perspiration allright. 

Broad Cairn now comes into view

A bit further along and Broad Cairn now comes into view, looks magnificent at the end of the loch but also looks a long way away.

As expected the zig zag had me blowing a bit but actually pleased how well I ascended it. Still it was a steep 500m ascent in anyone's books.

Full views of loch and mountains

At the top the gradient eases with some superb steep views down the loch and the very big isolated country house, wondered at first what Arab/Russkie owned that? Until something clicked that this was one of our Royal households, nice.

Hissing Sid

Too busy looking down I almost stood on an adder. It didn't like it either and showed me its forked tongue.

The next section was quite horrid and sore on the feet. The good track was just loose stones for about a kilometre. Not good footing and glad to be past it.

On the Mounth Broad Cairn 

Broad Cairn can be seen proper but is still a good walk away. There is still a good track that turns into embedded stone steps every so often. 

Wide patches close to become more stone steps

Whilst these are good you have to step up far higher than my normal skimming style, takes more effort.

But the sting in the tail is the boulder section which requires some hands on easy scrambling before the top pointed well built cairn appears. The wind is even stronger than yesterday which probably hides how burnt you could be getting as the sky still blue.

View ahead from Broad Cairn

Being brave no jacket on I head to Munro 2, Cairn Bannoch, actually the higher of the two. There is a brief view of it before you descend across the open moor. 

Decent walking to Cairn Bannoch

No great hardship as a good track has been eroded into the moor so just follow it. A short scramble over the boulders to the top.  Took my break sheltered from the wind and basking in both the sun and the views.

Short scramble

Munro 3 is along the plateau, easy going but I reckoned it would add another 1.5 – 2 hours, today is long enough.

Heading back to Broad Cairn

So a wandered back along to Broad Cairn, not nearly as steep from this side and now a few people being regularly passed. 

View back to Loch Muick from Broad Cairn

Had a couple of conversations with fellow walkers before descending via the same route. Whilst scrambling up the boulder field was relatively straight forward descending was more awkward but I survived.

Charlies abode

Another short break to admire the views down Loch Muick and to study Charlies place more closely. A superb waterfall that seems to disappear half way up/down. There was no outflow into the loch that I could see. I noticed movement on the hillside near it and now could see 4 people making good progress up the very steep track. Didnt look well equipped so I wondered if they were just doing the waterfall, surely not Lochnagar from there, who knows?

Loch Muick from top of zig zags

Another viewpoint at the top of the zig zags before trying not to heel slide on the steep stony descent. Did once a close call to another injury.

Resident greylags

Now the heat was full on and the walk back to the car was demanding, envious of the greylags at the lochside, luckily I had plenty of water left although it was warm, continually supping it as I walked. 

Look in good condition

Some movement on the hill and a herd of red deer stags 20+ grazing away. Second herd of stags that I have bumped into recently.

Back at the car, wardens office still closed, but the heat was unreal, we are not used to this in Scotland. A superb walk and had an extra fiver for a pint.

Ascent: 1011m

Distance: 24.65km

Time: 6.11

Wildlife: Adder; Peewit; Red deer; Greylag Geese; Meadow Pipit; Dark Green Fritillary; Small Heath;