📌 Braemar, Aberdeenshire
★★★★
Ben Macdui is the UK’s second highest summit after Ben Nevis. Found on the southern edge of a vast plateau stretching south from Cairn Gorm, this is a barren, tundra-like region – and an inhospitable environment during bad weather or poor visibility (frequent). A ghostly apparition known as the Grey Man is known to patrol the summit plateau, and on a wild day when the cloud is down… well, you never know. This route starts from Deeside to the south, also taking in two other Munros; it’s longer than the usual approach from Cairngorm Mountain ski centre, but with even better scenery. After a long approach through beautiful Glen Lui, a good path leads to Carn a’ Mhaim, boasting one of the best narrow ridges in the Cairngorms. Next is a slog up Ben Macdui itself – break the ascent by stopping to enjoy the views across the Lairig Ghru towards the magnificent coires of Braeriach and Cairn Toul. Hopefully there’ll be enough energy left for the equally long return walk, which includes the bulky third Munro of Derry Cairngorm.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Linn of Dee 
View up Glen Lui to Carn a’ Mhaim 
Glen Lui from the ascent of Carn a’ Mhaim 
Carn a’ Mhaim summit 
View northeast to the Sròn Riach ridge 
View north along the ridge towards Ben Macdui 
The Devil’s Point from the Carn a’ Mhaim ridge 
Ben Macdui ahead 
View back along the ridge to Carn a’ Mhaim 
Lochan at the bealach, Cairn Toul beyond 
Braeriach coires 
Ptarmigan 
Lochan Uaine & the Luibeg Burn from the summit pleateau 
Derry Cairngorm 
View north along Ben Macdui’s eastern cliffs to the Barns of Beinn Mheadhoin 
View northeast across Ben Macdui’s summit plateau 
Ben Macdui summit 
Ruined bothy at the summit 
View west from the summit 
Descent towards Loch Etchachan 
Derry Cairngorm across Coire Sputan Dearg 
Ben Macdui east cliffs from the route to Derry Cairngorm 
Ben Macdui from Derry Cairngorm 
Beinn Mheadhoin 
Descent to Derry Lodge
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Linn of Dee, minor road 6 mi west of Braemar
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 063898
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.989588,-3.543398
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 32 km / 20 mi | ▲ 1320 m | ⌛ 10-12 hr
Features: 🌊 Linn of Dee ★★★; △ Carn a’ Mhaim (1037 m, Munro); △ Ben Macdui (1309 m, Munro); △ Derry Cairngorm (1155 m, Munro)
⬤ Very tough | Excellent paths and tracks in the glens although stretch beyond Derry Lodge can get boggy. Steep ascent to Carn a’ Mhaim on clear path. Path becomes rougher and eventually fades to nothing on the higher slopes of Ben Macdui before reappearing for final stretch. Initially good path north-east of Ben Macdui, then intermittent to Derry Cairngorm which has a long boulderfield before the path improves beyond.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – detour to Linn of Dee – Lui falls & salmon ladder – Derry Lodge – Luibeg Bridge – leave glen path at 🧭 NO 010939 – Carn a’ Mhaim – coire rim overlooking Lochan Uaine on Ben Macdui – Ben Macdui – 1053m spot height short of Creagan a’ Choire Etchachan – Derry Cairngorm – Carn Crom – Derry Lodge – start via main track
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Unexpected frog right at the top of Carn a’ Mhaim, ptarmigan on Ben Macdui.
Weather: Mostly cloudy but some brighter spells, light winds and temperature just into double figures. Large snow patches remaining on the plateau.
June 2012
