Ord Ban Aviemore

99.9% of the people who visit Loch an Eilein park their cars, walk around the loch and depart. It is a loch of repute and history but to be honest I always find the walk a bit too sedate and even boring. These visitors are oblivious of the fact that there is an easy peasy hill walk right beside them with outstanding views.

The gate in the deer fence

We walked in from our cottage in Aviemore but most people will drive and pay the £2 parking fee, no avoidance there is a manned booth. On the walk in the hill is in good view but its flanks appear tree covered with no obvious view of the summit.
From the car park the hard bit is finding the way over the deer fence. The Walkhighlands site has a walk report showing a large stile over the fence. Up and down we walked, no sign. Spoke to the car park attendant who said just go through the gate behind the ruined bothy!!

The faint trail

Once through the gate turn immediately left and follow the very faint track that zigzags up through the trees and ferns. The sun was out with plenty of butterflies sunning away and lots of other beasties buzzing about.

Mrs B zigzagging

The path is faint and narrow but in reasonable condition. In one muddy pool deer hoofprints were clear but we did not see any, plenty of cover for daytime hiding. Keep looking back as great views of the Cairngorm area.

Scrambling rocks looming

Once you break the tree cover there is a minor piece of easy rock scrambling, kids would love it. Now open skies, the flattish area covered in heather and new trees and a track leading to a trig point.

Trig in sight

When reached, about 50 minutes as Mrs B with me, the 360 degree views are quite astounding. Pitlochry is clearly seen below to the north. To the East the Cairngorm massif and the sky lifts.

Looking south the rolling hills of the Dalwhinnie area are also clearly identifiable. Turn a little and looking now towards Kingussie I am sure I am looking at the Glencoe peaks but the biggest one could even be Ben Nevis. Lastly to the west is Geal Charn Mor, a Corbett in a recent blog. For such little effort quite simply outstanding views and it is a tickbox as it is a Marilyn category hill.

Aviemore below

However there were lots of big flying things annoying us so down we went retracing our steps. We were fine but friends I told this about went up about two weeks later and between the 15 of them they found 25 clegg bites!! Admittedly they did not descend by the same route, ended up going through thick bracken and ferns and had to climb the deer fence, not advised.

When we reached the bottom we treated ourselves to an ice cream in the tourist shop. We also decided to finish with the hours walk around the loch. As said before minimal birdlife in the trees and next no birds on the water. If you want a bland forest walk then go for it.

Loch an Eilein

Facts: 10.4 mile walk with 857 ft of ascent and a 5 hour day out. Official height of Ord Ban 428 metres.
A walk back to Aviemore and a couple of pints of real ale sitting outside the superb Old Bridge Inn completed a fine day.

PS:Scotland are playing Malta tonight, surely not a downer to the day!