Not the full range just the singular.....Cairn Gorm

Hill: Cairn Gorm

Type: Munro

Height: 1245m

On a family break but given some free time, at least enough for a quick morning outing. Fog scuppered this on previous days but the forecast was better for today, at least some views predicted.

This is probably one of the best known Munro names even if its ascent is less than inspiring. However, it does stand at an impressive 6th in the height table. I would have liked to have included Ben MacDui to make it a proper walk but time was not going to allow that.

I opted for easier start from the Sugar Bowl car park where the funicular is out of action and requiring an enormous amount of tax payer money to repair it, someone is laughing all the way to the bank. It is a proper scandal.

After finding my way around the building site the initial section certainly got the body going, it was a steep but well constructed path.

Cloud lifting view back to car park

Short and sharp but not long before I entered the clouds, so much for Met Office forecast of being clear of cloud by this time. I did not emerge from them until almost at the Ptarmigan. After that it was blue sky with clouds clinging to the corries great views and some heat.

Tourist track and my descent

I took the Marquis Well route, contouring the hill, which opened up some more tops peaking through the clouds. On a clearer day far ranging views.

It doesn't show but Ben Hope was poking out

Good indicator of where cloud level peaked

From the summit Aviemore was still under cloud but looking further afield some peaks sticking their tops out to the north. One very isolated peak, much internal debate, surely can only be Ben Hope.

A good 10 minutes taking it all in. A couple of guys in dungarees with hard hats appeared, I thought they were going to the mast. Nope they were funicular workers who wanted to see the top, wonder if they were being paid our money for that? 

Tourist track

Aviemore coming into view

I decided to return via the tourist path and thankfully the clouds disappeared fairly quickly over a 10 minute spell to give me something to look at. Loch Morlich and Aviemore prominent.

A short outing but it got the legs and lungs going again. Back down in time for a short afternoon ramble hopefully followed up with coffee & cake with the family, bonus points all round.

Ascent: 753m

Distance: 7.51km

Time: 2.47

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit,